A Note About Current Availability
Our Oncology Massage therapist, Katie, is currently on an extended leave. As a result, Oncology Massage appointments are temporarily unavailable at Spirit & Body Massage.
We remain committed to offering this specialized service and look forward to welcoming oncology massage clients again when Katie returns.
If you have questions about future availability, please feel free to contact us.
Gentle Care for the Body. Peace for the Mind. Strength for the Spirit.
Cancer and its treatments can change your body – and they can change how massage should be provided.
Oncology Massage is specialized, individualized massage for people living with cancer, receiving treatment, recovering from treatment, or navigating lasting changes from their cancer history. Your session is thoughtfully adapted to where you are today, with consideration for your treatment history, current health, comfort and goals.
At Spirit & Body Massage, Oncology Massage is provided by Katie, our Oncology Massage Specialist and S4OM Preferred Practitioner. Her approach considers pressure, positioning, areas worked, session length and other adaptations so you can receive massage with greater confidence in the care behind it.
Oncology Massage Is More Than Lighter Pressure
Cancer and cancer treatment can affect much more than how much pressure feels comfortable. Surgery, radiation, medications, fatigue, changes in bone health, lymphatic considerations, medical devices, positioning needs and other treatment effects may all influence how massage should be approached.
That’s why Oncology Massage isn’t simply a lighter version of a regular massage.
Care begins before you ever get on the table.
Katie takes time to understand your cancer and treatment history, how you’re feeling now, and what you want from your massage. She uses that information to shape the session around you.
Some days you may want quiet, nurturing touch and a chance to simply rest. Other days you may have a particular area of discomfort or tension you want addressed. Your needs can change from one appointment to the next, and your massage can change with them.
You are always part of the conversation.
Experience Matters When Massage Needs to Adapt
Oncology massage isn’t simply a lighter version of a regular massage.
Oncology Massage at Spirit & Body Massage is provided exclusively by Katie, our Oncology Massage Specialist and S4OM Preferred Practitioner through the Society for Oncology Massage.
Katie combines specialized oncology massage education with more than a decade of hands-on massage experience. Her training helps her understand how cancer, treatment and a person’s health history may affect massage – and when the usual approach may need to change.
Just as importantly, Katie doesn’t approach Oncology Massage from a checklist alone. She listens.
Your diagnosis may be part of your story,
but it doesn’t tell her everything about the person on the table.
She considers your history alongside how you’re feeling today, what matters to you, and what you want from your massage.
Oncology Massage Specialist • S4OM Preferred Practitioner • Licensed Massage Therapist
Katie is currently the only S4OM Preferred Practitioner listed within 50 miles of Prescott Valley, Arizona, helping bring specialized oncology massage care closer to individuals and families throughout our Northern Arizona community.
View Katie’s S4OM Preferred Practitioner Profile
I’ve Had Cancer. Do I Need Oncology Massage?
Not necessarily.
A history of cancer doesn’t automatically mean you need Oncology Massage for every future massage. What matters is your individual treatment history, current health, and whether there are treatment-related considerations that could affect how massage should be provided.
If you are currently living with cancer or receiving cancer treatment, Oncology Massage with Katie is generally the appropriate place to begin.
If your cancer treatment is in the past, regular therapeutic or relaxation massage may be perfectly appropriate. We’ll ask a few simple questions when you request your appointment to help determine which service – and which therapist – is the best fit.
What about lymph nodes or radiation?
If you’ve had lymph nodes removed or radiation that may have affected lymphatic pathways, we may need a little more information before confirming regular therapeutic massage or considering firmer pressure.
That doesn’t mean you have lymphedema, and it doesn’t automatically mean you can only receive Oncology Massage.
You don’t need to figure all of this out before contacting us.
That’s our job.
What Your Oncology Massage Can Feel Like
Gentle Doesn’t Mean Generic
Your session may include quiet, nurturing touch and deeply restful work, or it may give thoughtful attention to areas of tension and discomfort.
Pillows, bolsters and positioning can be adjusted for comfort. Areas can be avoided or approached differently. And your massage can change as your needs change – even from one appointment to the next.
Gentle does not mean less skilled, less thoughtful or less valuable.
Katie’s goal isn’t to work as deeply as possible. It’s to choose the pressure and approach that make sense for you.
You never need to tolerate discomfort because you think that’s how massage is ‘supposed’ to feel.
Pressure Is a Tool, Not a Measure of Quality
SBM’s standard Oncology Massage ranges from resting contact through gentle pressure. For some people, that is exactly the right approach. For others with a cancer history, somewhat firmer work may be appropriate depending on their individual circumstances.
When relevant treatment history is involved, Katie may need additional information before considering firmer pressure.
The goal isn’t a particular pressure level.
The goal is a massage that is appropriate and meaningful for you.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
We Take the Time Before the Massage Begins
Your first Oncology Massage appointment includes time with Katie to talk about your health and treatment history and anything that may affect your massage.
You’ll complete our regular new-client intake information, and Katie will review an Oncology Massage Workup with you before your massage begins.
That conversation does not come out of your massage time.
A 30-minute Oncology Massage includes 30 minutes of hands-on massage, and a 60-minute Oncology Massage includes 60 minutes of hands-on massage. We build the additional time needed for your initial oncology intake into our schedule rather than shortening your session.
For your first Oncology Massage, please arrive 30 minutes early so we have plenty of time for your intake before your massage begins.
Care That Works Around You
Your Session Can Change With You
If you’ve scheduled 60 minutes but 30 minutes feels like the better choice that day, you can receive 30 minutes and pay for the 30-minute session.
You don’t have to push through a longer massage simply because that’s what you originally scheduled.
Cancer treatment can bring enough schedules, appointments and things to think about. Your massage shouldn’t add another layer of stress.
If something has changed, you’re not feeling quite like yourself, or you’re simply unsure what will feel best, just talk with us. We’ll figure it out together.
You don’t have to arrive knowing exactly what you need.
That’s part of the care.
Your massage should work around your care
– not compete with it.
Oncology Massage – Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need medical clearance before receiving Oncology Massage?
Usually, no. Medical clearance is not routinely required for SBM’s standard Oncology Massage. Depending on your health history and the type of massage you’re requesting, Katie may need additional written information from your healthcare team. This is most likely when lymph-node removal or radiation affecting lymphatic pathways is part of your history and you’re requesting firmer pressure. A special clearance form isn’t always necessary—existing provider recommendations or treatment records may provide the information Katie needs.
Can I receive firmer or deeper pressure if I’ve had cancer?
Possibly. Having had cancer does not automatically mean you can never receive firmer massage again. Katie considers your individual health and treatment history. If you’ve had lymph nodes removed or radiation affecting lymphatic pathways, additional written medical information may be needed before firmer pressure is considered. Some areas may still require a gentler approach even when firmer work elsewhere is appropriate. Medical information helps Katie make that decision; it doesn’t guarantee a particular pressure level.
I’ve had lymph nodes removed or radiation. Can I still receive massage?
Yes. Lymph-node removal or radiation affecting lymphatic pathways does not automatically mean you cannot receive massage. It does mean Katie will consider that history when choosing pressure, techniques and areas worked. Areas affected by lymphatic changes generally receive a gentler approach, and additional information may be needed if you’re requesting firmer pressure. Having increased lymphedema risk is not the same as having lymphedema, and not everyone who is at risk develops it.
Is Oncology Massage the same as lymphatic drainage or lymphedema treatment?
No. Oncology Massage is individualized massage adapted around your cancer and treatment history. It is not the same as Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), and SBM’s Oncology Massage is not treatment for lymphedema. Katie considers lymphatic history when deciding how massage should be provided, but that is different from providing specialized lymphedema treatment.
What if I have osteoporosis, bone loss or concerns about my bone health?
Bone health can affect how massage is provided, but not every person with a cancer history needs a bone-density test or medical clearance before massage. If you have known osteoporosis, osteopenia, previous fractures, cancer involving the bone, or another concern about bone strength, let Katie know. She can adapt pressure, positioning and techniques and, when needed, ask for additional medical information before considering firmer work.
Can I receive Oncology Massage while I’m receiving cancer treatment?
Yes. Oncology Massage is specifically designed to be adapted for people living with cancer, including those currently receiving treatment. Katie considers your treatment, current condition, symptoms, comfort and how you’re feeling that day when planning your massage. If something has changed or you’re unsure whether massage feels right that day, contact us. We’ll help you figure out the next step.