Refused a massage because I had cancer

[MinnieMountain]

I tried to book a massage at a new place yesterday but when I filled in their medical form and said I had cancer 8 years ago, they said they can't do it without a doctor's letter. Supposedly their insurance doesn't cover it as massage can cause any remaining cancer cells to grow again.

I'm astounded at their ignorance.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Is it ignorance OP?

Are they not just taking precautions to safeguard you as well as protect themselves?

I’ve heard of this before on here, might be worth searching previous threads.

I was refused a facial a couple of years ago even though at the time I had no evidence of disease.

This is very normal op. Its always been in T&C when getting massages

This is normal. My old nail lady had to do a specialist qualification to be allowed to do massages on people with/who had cancer

Jesus. Ask them for the peer reviewed evidence to back up this claim.

This is why you dont go to town on the medical form. Only disclose certain things for a massage, its a rub down for goodness sake.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/coping-with-treatment/complementary-therapies/massage-or-other-touch-therapies

even the macmillian website says you should only have a massage from someone who is qualified to massage someone who has had cancer. Just find a different masseuse.

Yabvu

@likelysuspectand what do I say when the therapist asks what that rash high up on my chest is?

It's never been an issue anywhere else. And I do mention it if asked.

Op this isn’t ignorance if your cancer is back/ there there’s only specialist massages they can do and the person has to be trained

This is for people with evidence of disease/in active treatment. Not for people who have had NED for eight years!

It’s really outdated.

If you're having a massage on an area where a) you had a tumor or b) you had skin cancer type thing then yes, I wouldnt ignore that and would choose a different therapist who can manage that

But say someone had skin cancer on their face 3 years ago and now want a neck and back massage or lower legs, what relevance is this

Were you having a frontal massage or on your back?

If your back and if its nothing to do with your front then I wouldnt even talk about it, is a therapist going to ask? And if they do it could be an allergic reaction/hives/exceed etc

This is Chat. I never asked that question.

No, the MacMillan website doesn’t say that.

The masseuse was in the wrong and ignorant. I have several massages a year and in the 20 years since I had cancer, I have never been refused.

Was there someone more senior you could talk to OP?

I've just cancelled the appointment @DinosaurBlue. It's not worth the hassle. I was simply curious if anyone else had experienced this.

I don't lie on things like that.

My Mum has never been refused a massage but a couple of times a therapist has changed the massage offered as she had lymph nodes removed and certain types of massage aren’t suitable.

@MinnieMountain they were correct in needing a doctor's letter. Massage affects the lymphatic system and can cause cancer cells to migrate

Yes. That’s pretty standard.

Why? If the insurers say no, they can't do it.

My dil had a facial declined because she had breast cancer. Think she booked mani pedi instead. She had a voucher btw.

If all I’m having is a facial I lie on the form.

Only if you have them.

When someone has been in remission for 8 years, and officially considered cured, that’s probably not going to happen.