Ann-Marie Swaby – Oncology Specialist Massage
Some of you may already know my journey of how I got to this point but for those of you who don’t, let me fill you in. Back in the 1990’s I worked at the oldest hospital in London, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, which, is an internationally renowned teaching hospital.
I worked as a support worker on an oncology ward. One day, staff on the ward were asked if we wanted to attend a weekend introductory massage course to help our patients, I jumped at the chance. The training, I enjoyed it so much and I thought that one day this is what I’m going to do for a living, and decades later from international to UK base training, this, is my one day!
I’ve learnt many therapeutic techniques since then e.g., Reflexology, Reiki, Western Massage and Eastern (Tuina – Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM), Kinesiology and Korean Hand Therapy (KHT).
Just before qualifying as a massage therapist, I saw a poster pinned up in the treatment room about oncology massage by Jennifer Young which I never forgot, it was embedded in my mind for years. I have made my journey and have now come full circle.
Working at a spa for many years, I learnt that if a client ticks the box marked cancer, they would be turned away, unless, there was a therapist that had been on a brief cancer training.
Touch is a basic human need, and, by holding someone’s hand or giving hugs to family or friends can improve their mental wellbeing, so here I am to help by giving to someone in need like you or someone you know.
