Anyone interested in Oncology massage?

[Onica]

I'm a student and I am interested in oncology massage. I've found several different training classes and certification classes that I'll consider once I get out there and get some experience under my belt.

My question is, can you actually make a living doing this? I live on the outskirts of the Chicago suburbs. There is a small hospital near by that has MT's working in their oncology department. I don't know much about it though. There are a couple other hospitals near by that do not seem to have any massage therapists on staff at all.

Would my best chance be to take the classes first, become a specialist, and then approach the hospitals and see if it's something they are interested in doing? Or should I approach them hoping that they would pay for me to take the training?

 

[teresa g]

Here in Detroit there is a hospital who will train therapists for oncology massage. After the program is over some are hired by the hospital and some find jobs at other hospitals in the area. Don't know if any hospitals in the Chicago area do this, but maybe ask your instructors or in the administration office. They may have connections for you to make that way. Keep us informed!

 

[Stealth_Assasination]

There are a couple of hospitals here in Phoenix that do have MT's working in their oncology departments but they won't even think about hiring you until you have been through Gayle MacDonald's cert classes.

I think the future is bright for oncology massage though, at least here in the valley. One of the hospitals is building an entire pediatric oncology center, a large university medical center is in the works for downtown, and Cancer Research Centers of America is building a new center here that should be open late next year.

I say if its something you want to do, go for it. I'm signed up for Gayle's class this fall and I figure even if I can't get in with a hospital or medical center right away, it's something I can add to my private practice in the meantime.

 

[jms043]

I live in Chicago and recently completed a 5-day oncology massage course with Isabel Adkins. It was a fantastic class and I can't wait to complete her training.

As far as working in the field, few people at few hospitals know much if anything about oncology massage, including benefits to patients and training required of MTs - but thankfully this is changing. I seriously doubt that anyone is going to hire you and then pay for your training. But if you do find someone, please feel free to send them my way!

Regarding making a living as an Oncology Massage Therapist, making money in this specific field is no different than within the entire field of massage therapy. Please don't take this next statement personally...but if money is your primary concern and reason for contemplating the work, this is probably not the best path for you. This work requires immense compassion and a true calling from the heart, and the rewards come from the work and people themselves, not so much in monetary form. According to a fairly recent conversation I had with Charlotte Michael Versagi (the head of the Onc. massage program at Beaumont Hospital in MI), the national average pay for MTs working in hospitals is somewhere within the range of $13-22 per hour - and not being a 40 hr workweek, that isn't much to live on, at least not in Chicago. She advocates a 16 hr workweek max for MTs. However, the last hospital I interviewed with required 25 hands-on hours per week (slave-labor IMO).

If you want to find out what its all about, definitely take the "Massage for People Living with Cancer" class. You will learn enough to be able to massage this population without causing harm, and it will help you discover whether you want to pursue further education. With as many people in this world who have been diagnosed with cancer at one time or another, I personally think this class should be a requirement integrated into every massage therapy program.

 

[Mamma of 3]

Thank you so much for your feedback everyone!

CY,
Of course money isn't my goal. LOL! If it were I probably wouldn't even be going into massage therapy. I just have a passion for it. When I read how massage can help cancer patiens, it struck a chord with me. I wasn't so much concerned about the amount of the pay as I was concerned about anyone even allowing me to even put my hands on oncology patients.

I will plan on taking the class when my school is done next summer. I agree that it should be a part of every massage program. I'm really looking forward to it! Thanks again!

 

[superstar dj]

I looked into this recently and attended a symposium on treating "medically frail" people, with most of the discussion centered on cancer patients. Northwestern Health Sciences University (http://www.nwhealth.edu) offers a class on Hospital-Based Massage that includes an internship so students can determine in advance whether it's an area they want to pursue professionally. The class is offered several times per year.

I have since considered entering the field of oncology massage, but for now it's not my primary area of interest. Hospital awareness of specialized certifications is limited at best, though that may change.

 

[Tiffany]

I recently read in my AMTA newsletter that someone in New Jersey has started a school for oncology massage? I think it's a joint venture with a hospital there, and a year-long program....although I am happy to see oncology massage becoming more and more justified as a resource for cancer treatment, I'm not sure I agree with the need for a year long 750 hour program. To me, that makes it seem just like a money maker instead.

I do believe oncology massage should be more than just a weekend program, thats why I am choosing to do the 3 day overview certification class, the 5 day hospital clinic course, and the separate pediatric oncology course....but an entire year? Sounds like overkill to me.

Just my .02

 

[carlos]

oncology massage

to cy
Do you know how to get a question to Michele I tried to e-mail her at the address at the Hospital but it was returned. There will be a class here in AR in Oct. but I can not get them to respond to my call or can't find their web page.
thanks

 

[ihateemopeople]

shawnie, I'm assuming that you mean Charlotte at Beaumont? I've never had a problem sending her email, maybe it was down that day. Here is her contact info:

Charlotte Michael Versagi, LMT, NCTMB
Supervisor, Medical Massage
Integrative Medicine Department
Oncology Services
Beaumont Hospitals
Phone: 248-551-9990
Fax: 248-551-9992
cversagi@beaumonthospitals.com