Massage!

A long time back, my friend had sent me a gift certificate to get a massage. I had often wanted to use it, but since massages help eliminate toxins from your body, I thought it ill advised to try to get the chemo out of my system before it had done its damage. So I waited. Same for the radiation although there were days when my body ached and the thought of a good soothing massage was enticing.

Now, I am over the chemo and the radiation treatments. I am ready to expel toxins. I call for an appointment. The place is easy to find, and I go after work, slowing down with rush hour congestion on 490, and pulling into the parking lot well after dark. I fill out the forms - I am used to listing my various cancers, and think nothing of it until the masseuse reads my litany. She looks up follicular lymphoma to see what is recommended. Nothing to stimulate the circulation system. This is, after all, in the lymphatic system.

I am fortunate that she works at the Unity Cancer Center and is familiar with the ins and outs of massage as it relates to both cancer and treatment. She is careful to just do a half hour of non circulation massage - mostly feet and hands and pressure points. Those are always safe, she tells me. And once I check with my oncologist, she will do the second half hour possibly with more involvement if the doctor is amenable.

The massage table is heated and the music is Christmasy. We chat quietly while she works on my hands and feet and the pressure points in my back. It feels SOOOOOOO good. I sigh. It is, in a way, a marking of the end of treatment, a statement that I am done with inputting toxins and moving into the detoxifying stage. I take my time getting up from the table and dressed.

I leave in a misty rain, the wipers keeping time to O Come, All Ye Faithful on the radio. Nice. Very nice. Thanks, Diane. You have no idea how good that felt.