Selfcare Workshops for Young People with Cancer

Treatment for cancer, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies, can cause a patient’s skin to become sensitive, flaky, dry, sore, and itchy.  The skin can become red and peel. And just like skin, nails can really suffer during chemo too.

Our relaxing hand massage therapy session for young people fighting cancer is designed to introduce beneficiaries to massage as a form of self-care, to teach them techniques that they can recreate whenever they need.

Some studies show that massage can relax your mind and body, relieve tension, and enhance mood.  Massage can also improve sleep and enhance emotional well-being.

Further studies show that it can be used to counter some of the side effects of treatment, reduce nausea, and pain and improve circulation.

Overall, massage can provide a sense of calm.

As part of our Summer Residential Stay, the young people were given some specially formulated hand cream, designed for cancer patients with their specific skincare needs in mind, a manicure kit, and for those who wanted some colourful nail varnish, again with no harsh chemicals.

At the session, they were met by a team of professional skin care experts who guided them step by step through the massage techniques, talking through the steps and the benefits. Throughout the session the young people had time to chat and chill. They were treated to a manicure and for those that wanted a little colour taught how to apply nail colour just like the professionals!

In these self-care type sessions, the young people offer support to each other on a whole range of physical, mental, and emotional issues.  We hear them telling each other the importance of self-care, encouraging each other to create and maintain healthy relationships with themselves, and offering suggestions for simple things they can do to look after themselves, from regular sleep and a healthy diet through to having a warm bath and reading a book or listening to music. It is always heart-warming and shows how very special this little Community you have helped us to create is.

Not only do the young people now have a set of skills to help them relax, but they also have a group of peers who can offer support and understanding whenever they need, to our funders this quarter, a very special thank you.