BY JOSH CORMAN

THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE has long been used by specially trained therapists to provide relief to those battling cancer or those who have dealt with the disease in the past . However , the practice of oncology massage is offered at relatively few spas . In many cases , guests with a history of cancer or a current cancer diagnosis are unable to receive massage treatments in spas altogether because of the damage that can be done by therapists not trained specifically in oncology massage techniques .

But given that the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) estimates that there were 17 million new cancer cases worldwide in 2018 alone ( the last year for which data is available ), it seems clear that the cancer community is likely being underserved and is missing out on the potential benefits that therapeutic massage would provide if such services were more widely available .

Scott Duncan , president of Spa Gregorie ’ s , and Stephanie Scott , vice president of retail and wellness services at Crystal Spa , have both presided over the implementation of oncology massage programs at their spas during their tenures , and Pulse spoke to each of them about that implementation process and the enormous benefits those programs have had for their guests .

38 PULSE ^■ FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022