Guest post: Helen Roach, MFHT

It is possible to enjoy touch therapies and beauty treatments from the point of cancer diagnosis and beyond?

I qualified as a beauty and complementary therapist 20 years ago. Back then, anyone that had been diagnosed with cancer was excluded from having any therapy sessions; a definite no-no, a contra-indication of treatment.

Since then there has become an increased level of awareness and acceptance that not only will those with cancer come to no harm or worsen their diagnosis, on the contrary, they will often encounter a heightened state of well-being. For women who are diagnosed, cancer can present a number of questions and challenges of their female identity, of their femininity.

“All I wanted was for people to treat and see me as a normal woman after having surgery through cancer. Helen really put me at ease and it felt wonderful to be pampered again.”
Fiona Murphy, from London.

I completed a post-graduate course in adapted oncology massage, facial, scalp, hand/foot and nail treatments, and Indian Head massage with the Jennifer Young Training School. Since then, I have given treatments to numerous women who have expressed their joy at their inclusion in the world of traditional beauty and complementary treatments. It’s an honour to be part of a movement that opens the door to women who appreciate, sometimes more than most, the well-being potential of touch therapies.

For more information about Helen’s therapy practice, visit www.revivetherapeutics.co.uk

Please note, complementary therapies should always be used alongside conventional medical care and not as an alternative. Always tell your doctor or consultant if you are having any complementary therapies while under their care.

For more information, visit www.fht.org.uk/what-is-complementary-healthcare