Complimentary therapies

Hi Gez. I would personally have your treatments before starting chemo. Your skin becomes so dry when you go through treatment and you may find you have to change from your usual products too but its personal choice. It would be awful if you had your facial etc during chemo and had a reaction as that can bring up a whole host of problems but good luck and enjoy the pampering xx

Have you had an operation and radiotherapy yet? I had chemo first and agree that your skin might be really sensitive so you won't want someone to massage it or use anything on it that isn't non-perfumed and for sensitive skin. You also might not feel like it as you might feel nauseous or sore.

When I was going through radiotherapy, I had a massage at the centre where I was having treatment and they said no massage on your back for a couple of months as radiotherapy can affect all your cells through to your back, so again, massaging would be too much for your skin. So if you have recently had radiotherapy, you might want to avoid your back if you're going to treat yourself ahead of chemo.

For the manicure, chemo can affect your nails so you won't want that during chemo. I had docetaxel, and having any kind of UV light on them can make them worse so you are advised to avoid all gel-polishes that are cured with UV. My nails have only just about grown out (they grow with ridges and discolouration during chemo) so you may want to wait until you way after chemo before treating yourself to the manicure and facial. I have had to keep my nails really short to stop them breaking and being painful and I had very long healthy nails prior to chemo.

I don't meant to be discouraging! I would either go before chemo or wait until months and months afterwards as a treat

Daughter asked her chemo specialist nurse as she had lymphoma but loved to have a massage. Obviously as she had active lymph problems it was a no-no. But well afterwards once in a lasting remission it was fine. 

You might find there are cancer-trained massage therapists, and any good salon/therapy/spa venue will allow you extra time on a voucher. I had been bought a voucher for a spa just 2 months before my bc diagnosis and they were fine with delaying it for as long as I wanted, they actually made the date open-ended which was so thoughtful of them. 

it would make a lovely treat once you’re well out of treatment, as a special ‘well done’ 

Hugs xxx