Hope in Healing

In Japanese culture, the crane is a symbol of hope and longevity. It's believed that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will live a long healthy life.

For women with breast cancer, massage goes a long way toward replenishing mind, body and spirit

TOUCH, LIKE LOVE, can move mountains, especially when it comes to helping someone heal-a hug, a pat on the back, a held hand, a soothing, gentle massage. There's something about the mind-body connection-the curative power of relaxation, the knowledge that someone cares.

That's why Massage Envy has once again partnered with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to present "Massage for the Cure." The event, now in its sixth year, will take place at Massage Envy locations nationwide on Sept. 14.

Massage for the Cure

"During Massage for the Cure, anyone can book a one-hour massage therapy session for just $49," says Carrie Glasscock, manager of corporate relations for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Massage Envy then donates $15 from every massage to our organization, and we put the donations to work in the same communities where the donations originate."

Over the years, the event has raised approximately $1.4 million, and much of those funds were used to pay for more than 500,000 reduced-cost or no-cost breast cancer screenings.

"Early detection is key," Glasscock says. "Massage Envy is helping us save lives by helping us reach people with messages about early detection where they live, work and play."

Indeed breast cancer is second only to lung cancer deaths among American women, and more than 40,000 U.S. women were estimated to have died from the disease in 2009. What's more, recent studies suggest that too many women in the United States schedule their first mammogram much later than recommended. By getting a first screening at age 40, women are more likely to be diagnosed before their tumor size is advanced, making treatment more effective.

The Mind-Body Connection

Those statistics compelled Massage Envy to reach out to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "It's a natural partnership," says Dawn Weiss, Massage Envy's director of brand continuity. "So many of our clients are affected by breast cancer, and many breast cancer survivors participated in the first Massage for the Cure event. Since then, we've been surprised to discover how many of our therapists and franchise owners are survivors, as well. Massage is a wonderful way to help people cope."

That's a sentiment that Glasscock shares. Although there are no final research reports on the benefits of massage for breast cancer patients, massage is just another tool in the cancer-fighting toolbox.

"We recommend massage as a complementary therapy," she says. "It's a tool to fight anxiety and nausea and, more generally, it helps provide some much-needed emotional support."

Therapists use long, connective strokes designed to relax the body and the mind during a session with a breast cancer survivor, according to C.G. Funk, a licensed massage therapist and vice president of industry relations and product development for Massage Envy. In addition to actual massage therapies, she adds, some of the best healing techniques a therapist can employ are compassion and listening.

"Any type of life-threatening disease creates stress and anxiety," Funk says. "Many medical interventions, including surgery and chemotherapy, tax the body and the immune system. Massage is a healthy counter to the aggressive treatments that many people have to endure to fight cancer. It's a gift for people with breast cancer to be touched in a compassionate and healing way."

-By Kelly Kramer