Massage

Insurance policies are private contracts between insurance companies and those receiving benefits under that policy, so different health insurance policies are ultimately going to contract in and out of different forms of treatment. As a general rule, you can always look for policies that cover more kinds of integrative therapies if those are important to you and your specific course of treatment.

Outside of shopping around for policies that may have more of the types of services you’re looking for, one way to push for movement in this and any other issue area is to pursue some form of legislative advocacy. For integrative therapies, you can speak to your representatives and tell them that these types of treatments should be covered as “essential health benefits” in all plans.

For information on your elected officials go to: http://www.house.gov (to find your U.S. Representative), http://www.senate.gov (to find your U.S. Senators), and http://www.votesmart.org (to find your local elected officials).
Insurance policies are private contracts between insurance companies and those receiving benefits under that policy, so different health insurance policies are ultimately going to contract in and out of different forms of treatment. As a general rule, you can always look for policies that cover more kinds of integrative therapies if those are important to you and your specific course of treatment.

Outside of shopping around for policies that may have more of the types of services you’re looking for, one way to push for movement in this and any other issue area is to pursue some form of legislative advocacy. For integrative therapies, you can speak to your representatives and tell them that these types of treatments should be covered as “essential health benefits” in all plans.

For information on your elected officials go to: http://www.house.gov (to find your U.S. Representative), http://www.senate.gov (to find your U.S. Senators), and http://www.votesmart.org (to find your local elected officials).

Massage after mastectomy is generally considered to be beneficial. There was some concern a few years ago that massage may spread breast cancer cells. This notion has been overturned.

It has been shown that massage reduces anxiety, pain and requirements for pain medication. A study form the University of Miami showed that massage also increased levels of a brain chemical called dopamine, which helps produce a feeling of well-being. In addition there was an increase in protective white blood cells that help boost the immune system (called natural killer cells) from the first to the last day of the study. Not sure what you are referring to when you say "massage". Do you mean traditional massage or manual lymph drainage which is sometimes referred to as "massage" although it is not part of the traditional massage protocol?

Are you asking about having a massage for its generalized beneficial effects, or are you asking about massage as a component of post-mastectomy rehabilitation treating swelling, neuropathy, scar tissue and fibrosis?

The first thing to do is to lightly stretch and massage the scar area daily (especially during the first year, when most healing occurs). When massaging, gently cross the incision from side to side. Also while massaging, be alert for lumps around or under the scar tissue, which might indicate reoccurrence.

Ointments may also be used. Some examples are eucerin, bio skin repair, scarprin, dermatix, ultratalsyn, zen-med, kelocote, and woundbegone.

Physical therapy could help if the scar tissue is causing stiffness, pressure, or pain.

Consult your doctor if the scar tissue is very painful. The first thing to do is to lightly stretch and massage the scar area daily (especially during the first year, when most healing occurs). When massaging, gently cross the incision from side to side. Also while massaging, be alert for lumps around or under the scar tissue, which might indicate reoccurrence.

Ointments may also be used. Some examples are eucerin, bio skin repair, scarprin, dermatix, ultratalsyn, zen-med, kelocote, and woundbegone.

Physical therapy could help if the scar tissue is causing stiffness, pressure, or pain.

Consult your doctor if the scar tissue is very painful.