Career Mapping Oncology Massage
Tamara Bunge
Massage Therapist, Animal Lover, Francophile
I am an oncology massage therapist whose passion it is to help clients find relaxation and freedom from discomfort and stress during or after their cancer treatment. I work with a wide variety of people, from all ages and walks of life. I believe massage can help not just to ease physical symptoms of pain and discomfort but also to ease the stress and anxiety that come with cancer treatment as well as everyday life.
I have been a licensed Massage Practitioner in the state of California since 2014. In 2016 I began volunteering oncology modified hand and foot massages for patients receiving cancer treatment at the Infusion Center at USC Keck Hospital in the Norris Cancer Center, and since 2017 have been employed as an inpatient massage therapist in the Norris Cancer Center, and as an outpatient massage therapist at the Disney Family Cancer Center, Integrative Medicine Department, Los Angeles. Working as an inpatient massage therapist has had the most impact on me because of seeing how big of an impact therapeutic touch and gentle massage can have on someone going through cancer treatment. The constant theme that has led me from one point to the next throughout my career has been my connection with Greet The Day. My initial training with them has led from one opportunity to another, from volunteering in the hospital to employment in the hospital, to continuing education etc. I have also made some of my closest friends in the industry thanks to my connections with them. My clients often say they can feel the presence and intention coming through my hands, and I think my sense of presence and genuine desire to help my clients are things that set me apart.
Every time I am at the hospital or giving a massage to an oncology client I am reminded that this is exactly where I want to be and exactly who I want to be working with.
When I went to my primary massage school to receiving my license, we were still taught that massage is contraindicated for people with a history of cancer. I knew at the time that it did not seem logical but rather than immediately seek out the proper information I let myself believe it to be true and spread false information for a period of time to clients and people in my community. I would never have done that if I had known better because it is incorrect and adds yet another stigma to someone with cancer that they are unsafe to be touched.
This can be so detrimental to someone with cancer, leading to embarrassment or shame, or discouraging them to disclose this information upon receiving a massage because they are afraid they will be turned away, which in turn can lead to complications arising from a massage that is not properly performed using oncology modifications. Massage is not just about physical touch but also about personal connection. Receiving a massage in any capacity can be a vulnerable experience so I think people visit a particular therapist not just because they enjoy the physical way that the therapist provides massage, but also their demeanor and attitude. In my professional journey what has surprised me most is how therapeutic and effective massage is. Massage is not just a luxury treatment people have to spoil themselves with at a spa but can actually help with a multitude of physical and emotional ailments. It is effective not just for people with a history of cancer, but many other conditions in life, including pregnancy, sports injury, insomnia, depression, and other medical conditions.
When my oncology client says she hasn’t been able to sleep a full night in six weeks due to her cancer treatments, and then after her massage says she is able to sleep through the night for multiple nights, that can be life changing for her. It not only allows her to get the physical rest she needs so her body can accept treatment better, but also lifts her spirits which we know is equally important in the healing process. My clients inspire me. Seeing someone go from being curled up in pain, to sitting up and smiling, or from crying and depressed to relaxed and pleased, is the most motivating thing in the world. Knowing that I am helping someone feel just a little bit better is what keeps me coming back.
I think the moment where massage professionals can go wrong in the oncology setting is when we try to fix something with massage. In other massage demographics that may be truer, but not so with oncology and it’s important for the therapist to understand that. The tools I would not be complete without are my hands and my sense of presence. After working in the hospital and learning how to work around the various noises of machines and people, having to get used to working with various lubricants or none at all, having to get creative in positioning due to constraints such as the hospital beds, tubes and lines, gloves and gowns, as well as the clients limited positioning abilities, I have learned that I can do massage anywhere. It is not about having the right or best setting, the best music, or lighting or lubricant. What is the most important is your sense of presence and intention and your hands that are doing the actual work. With those tools I can work anywhere.
One of my signature techniques is to try keeping consistent touch with the client. When I am moving from one body area to another I always gently walk my hands, or when I am getting more lotion I keep one hand on the client to maintain that connection. I have had clients tell me they love the feeling of being connected and that it keeps the energy flowing, and is calming. As part of my self-care ritual the first thing I do when I wake up and when I come home is hug my cat, which replenishes me, and I try to meditate in the evenings before bed. I think the moment where massage professionals can go wrong in the oncology setting is when we try to fix something with massage. In other massage demographics that may be truer, but not so with oncology and it’s important for the therapist to understand that. The tools I would not be complete without are my hands and my sense of presence. After working in the hospital and learning how to work around the various noises of machines and people, having to get used to working with various lubricants or none at all, having to get creative in positioning due to constraints such as the hospital beds, tubes and lines, gloves and gowns, as well as the clients limited positioning abilities, I have learned that I can do massage anywhere. It is not about having the right or best setting, the best music, or lighting or lubricant. What is the most important is your sense of presence and intention and your hands that are doing the actual work. With those tools I can work anywhere.
