Tracey Taylor, a CNHC registered Massage Therapist, writes about Charity Treatments for Cancer Clients in their Own Homes...
Circle of Comfort is a registered Scottish charity which offers complementary therapies to people in Fife and Perthshire who have been diagnosed with cancer or another life limiting illness. Clients are given massage, aromatherapy or reflexology treatments in their own home, or in hospital, free of charge, by one of the fully qualified therapists, of which I was one. Any Healthcare provider can refer a patient for this unique care and patients can also self-refer.
The Charity has proven to be successful with all patients who have used the service as they felt it beneficial to them. As part of her private practice, Roseann Haig treated clients with various cancer diagnoses and was also a volunteer therapist at the hospice in the Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline. During her time there, she saw first-hand the benefits that complementary therapies can provide to cancer patients. Roseann was deeply inspired by what she experienced, so she established Circle of Comfort in 2007.
There are several therapists throughout Fife and Perthshire offering treatments to clients who have reached out to the charity since its inception. It has been a humbling but rewarding experience as I heard about people’s lives before, during and after treatment. This experience opened my eyes to the many benefits of massage therapy and it reminded me of why I chose this line of work.
Patients with cancer may feel many benefits after a massage treatment, which could include:
Here are some testimonials from cancer patients who received therapy through the charity
I have been so inspired to learn much more about this kind of care, that I enrolled in the Start with Touch Oncology Massage Course. I am pleased to say that I have passed Levels 1 & 2 and am commencing the case studies for Level 3 now. Soon I will be a fully qualified Cancer Massage therapist - and I am so excited!