Supporting you from head to toe

Complementary therapy

Following a diagnosis and during cancer treatment life often becomes much more stressful – both mentally and physically. Our complementary therapies are designed to help relieve your pain and relax your mind, with benefits that go far beyond an hour of calm during a chaotic time.

Our complementary therapy team will support you in creating your own flexible treatment plan, by listening to what you hope to gain from each session. Plans consist of up to 6 free sessions.

All of our therapists are highly qualified to work with people who have received, or are receiving, cancer treatment. We want you to feel confident that your therapist is specifically trained to adjust treatments in line with your medical history and clinical care plan. This includes alleviating pain and discomfort of surgical scar tissue or other treatment side effects – as well as providing relief from the emotional and physical symptoms of stress, anxiety and loneliness.

Perhaps most importantly, we provide complementary therapies to ensure that you know you are deserving of such care and support. Our therapists will continue to work with you and help ensure you can care for your physical and emotional wellbeing after the sessions have ended. They put you first, so you can learn it’s ok to do the same.

If you’re interested in booking a complementary therapy or to find out more information, please fill in the form below or call us on 0141 337 8199 and someone will be happy to help.

Types of therapy we offer

  • Complementary Therapy - Back Massage
    Massage
    Our massage therapists help ease the strain on tired muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. With gentle pressure, stretching and smoothing, they alleviate stiffness, pain and restricted movement caused by various conditions, cancer treatments, and other stressors. This also increases oxygen in the blood and releases toxins to aid the healing and revitalisation process.
  • Aromatherapy
    We use a special blend of natural plant oils and grapeseed oils in our aromatherapy massages for their healing, cleansing, and mood-enhancing properties. These beautiful aromatic oils are selected to offer specific benefits for every client - under the guidance of our qualified practitioners – and used to restore the harmony of body, mind, and spirit.
  • Reflexology
    Applying pressure to areas on the body can have remarkable healing effects. Primarily focussing on the feet, but also the hands, face and ears, these techniques can identify and treat imbalances in organs, systems, nerves and tissues throughout the body. This restores wellbeing by enhancing your healing energy, removing toxins, improving circulation and reducing stress.
  • Facial reflexology
    Applying gentle pressure to the face helps to restore the proper flow of energy by re-invigorating facial muscles and nerve endings. It also improves circulation and lymphatic drainage for a naturally glowing complexion – while relieving tension in the face, neck, scalp and brain which can boost your immune system.
  • Complementary Therapy - Head Massage
    Indian head massage
    A head massage actually includes the head, neck and shoulders, and the far-reaching benefits can be felt in every system in the body. Therapeutic effects include improved circulation, improved joint mobility, relief from stress, tension, fatigue, eyestrain, sinusitis and insomnia. Massaging the scalp has the added benefit of promoting healthy hair growth, as well as being incredibly soothing.
  • Reiki
    Japanese for ‘Universal Life Force Energy’, Reiki promotes balance, unblocks energy channels, cleanses the body of toxins and may stimulate the body’s own natural ability to heal itself. The energy is channelled through the hands of the therapist to you. There is no manipulation involved, and it is found to be a very comforting and relaxing therapy.
  • Guided relaxation
    Guided imagery is similar to visualisation, in that you are using your imagination for a specific purpose. However, visualisation is more focused on a definitive outcome. Guided imagery is relevant for managing stress and coping with difficult situations.
  • Progressive muscle relaxation
    Relaxing is something you can learn! Your therapist will teach you how to recognise what relaxation truly feels like and spot when your tension is building. Doing so lowers overall stress levels and will help you relax when you are starting to feel anxious. This can alleviate stomach aches, headaches and improve your sleep during cancer treatment.
  • Specialist massage
    Lymphoedema is a condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues. It can affect any part of the body but is most common in arms and legs. It can be caused by cancer treatment such as surgery and Radiotherapy. Lymphatic drainage is a specialised, gentle type of medical massage. The aim of the massage is to encourage the lymph fluid to move away from the swollen area and into a place where the lymphatic system is working normally. We don’t currently offer this massage however are hoping to do so in the future.

Local Therapists

Cancer Support Scotland understands that finding Complementary Therapies in your local area while you are undergoing cancer treatment can be challenging due to a whole host of reasons. We have been working hard to ensure that there are more trained therapists that can safety and confidently provide Oncology Massage.

Here is a map of business, spas and therapists that have completed their Oncology Massage Diploma with Cancer Support Scotland.

The services offered by 3rd parties are not products of Cancer Support Scotland. Cancer Support Scotland are not responsible for 3rd parties insurance and ensuring they are complying with regulations.

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