Eye on Health: Cancer Massage - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Health: Cancer Massage

Dealing with cancer is difficult.  
Yet, a new service is being offered through the Trinity Cancer Center that provides a little relief for cancer patients.
Carla Burbidge explains in this week's Eye on Health.  

Patients at the Trinity Cancer Center spend hours being infused with drugs that are attacking the cancer cells.
But when Marjorie Hoeven shows up, it's a bright spot.  
Marjorie is a specialist in massage for cancer patients.  
She was part of a non-profit organization in California that provided this service, and when she moved to Minot this past summer, offered to help at Trinity.  
(Marjorie Hoeven, Cancer Massage) "When it is done right it is very safe, it reduces with various problems and increases the hormones that make you feel good."
Cancer Patient Molla Romine of Minot is on her third round of chemo treatments, and this is her first experience with massage.  
(Molla Romine, Rolla Resident) "It feels good, the moment she put her hands of my feet it felt good."
Marjorie says there are many factors to consider before doing a message on a medically sensitive patient.
Working around medical devices and consideration of blood counts.
(Marjorie Hoeven, Cancer Massage) "This is low demand, a soft touch, we want no inflammation or bruising."
Cancer massage is a volunteer job for Marjorie, she has a full time job elsewhere to pay the bills.  
That's why she is offering classes to teach others about cancer massage.  
The next one is in February.  
Eventually more people will be trained to offer this service to patients struggling with cancer.
(Marjorie Hoeven, Cancer Massage) "It is one of the few things in life, that not only feels good, but is good for you."
For Eye on Health I'm Carla Burbidge.