Anti-Cancer Lifestyle
Breast Health, Breast Massage
by Mary Kathleen Rose
Your Metabolism - do you understand it?
by Derek Beech
Breast Health – Breast Massage
by Mary Kathleen Rose, CMT
We live in a culture of mixed messages about
the female breast. Breasts are to be admired and breasts are
to be feared. Breasts are beautiful, the symbol of a woman’s
sexuality, femininity and ability to nurture. Breasts are
a site of pain and life threatening disease. Beginning at
an early age the woman wonders, “ Am I attractive?”
Seeing the images and hearing the voices in the culture the
woman asks, “Are my breasts the right size and shape?”
But breasts are also the site of discomfort as well as major
disease leading many women to live in fear of their own breasts.
“What is this pain I feel? Is this lump serious? Will
I be next?”
Many social, cultural and medical issues arise
in a discussion about women’s breasts. Of course we
all know that the basic biological function of the breasts
is to nurture a growing child. But few women spend more than
a small percentage of their lives performing this function.
And yet our breasts are a part of us, carrying the messages,
stories and emotions of a lifetime. Changes in the breast
reflect stages of growth in one’s life, from the budding
breasts of a young girl, to the feelings of sensuality, the
experiences of monthly cycles, the times of breastfeeding,
the awareness of breasts dictated by fashion and the issues
related to health.
Often the dictates of fashion and culture, lifestyle
and morality are at odds, perpetuating the mix of messages
a woman responds to in her lifetime. The importance of breast
size and shape to a woman’s sense of attractiveness
is reflected in the ever increasing rate of cosmetic surgery
of the breast. “I felt so much more confident and attractive
after the surgery.” Yet the puritanical influences of
culture and religion still govern as nursing mothers are made
to feel “indecent” if they feed their baby in
a public setting.
Mainstream medicine teaches the importance
of early detection and treatment of breast disease. Women
are told to do a monthly self-exam, but few are ever shown
by a health professional what that exam should entail. Many
women have told me that they seldom do a self-exam, because
they don’t really know what they are looking for, or
they are frightened by what they might find. Most women have
little or no knowledge of the functional anatomy of their
own breasts. I think it is ludicrous to give a woman a little
card explaining the importance of doing an exam, without first
giving her a lesson in the structure and function of the breast.
The real problem with the dominant medical
and media approach to breast health is that it is based in
fear. Rather than encouraging women to know and appreciate
their own breasts, the system teaches women to fear and mistrust
their own bodies as they are told to be on the lookout for
what is wrong with them. So women feel disconnected and powerless.
The television advertising of a major health maintenance organization,
targeting the female audience, had this to say: “Is
your health in the right hands? Is your health in the hands
of doctors?”
Is there a better way? I think so. While I
do believe that modern medicine has an essential role is maintaining
health and treating disease, I think that women (as well as
men) need to be educated about their bodies and take personal
responsibility for nurturing and fostering health in their
own bodies. In a humorous and engaging manner, The Breast
Cancer Society of Canada puts out a positive message in this
television ad: A group of young men offer to do breast exams.
They sit on a couch waiting for their bank of telephones to
ring. As they sit in silence, the message comes onscreen to
the viewing audience: “They’re your breasts. You
do it. Examine your breasts monthly.”
But a monthly breast exam is not enough. Women
need to be empowered through education, knowledge and experience.
In my work with women I strive to help them understand the
anatomy and physiology of their breasts. I use charts, diagrams
and models, as well as teach them various techniques for self-massage.
In this atmosphere they learn to appreciate the various structures
they are feeling. The benefits of self massage go far beyond
a cursory monthly self-exam. The massage actually helps encourage
the flow of lymph through the tissues, giving greater resiliency
to the breast tissue. It is great for the skin, as well as
being soothing to the nervous system.
In her excellent book, Breast Cancer? Breast
Health! The Wise Woman Way, Susun S. Weed says “Regular,
loving touching of our breasts allows us to recognize normal
breast changes without fear, and gives us time to respond
thoughtfully to abnormal changes.” Self-massage does
not negate the need for regular periodic professional exams.
Nor does it negate the appropriate use of medical intervention
when necessary. But it does empower the woman to be the primary
caretaker of her own body. As she is informed and actively
involved in her healthcare, she is in the best position to
make decisions about her own body.
As a certified massage therapist I have worked
with many women over the years who have experienced the range
of issues associated with breast discomfort and disease. Some
simply need the nurturing of generalized massage to relax
and enjoy relief from stress in their lives. But I have also
found a place for very specialized therapeutic massage techniques
to help women cope with a variety of concerns related to their
breasts. Massage of scar tissue can help alleviate pain after
surgery, giving greater pliability to the tissues. Manual
lymph drainage is soothing and effective in encouraging proper
lymph drainage of the upper torso. The breast and axillary
regions are very rich in lymphatic tissue which can be compromised
by surgery and/or radiation. Pregnant women and nursing mothers
have benefited from specific work to ease the pain of changing
or lactating breasts. Therapeutic breast massage can alleviate
the pain that some women experience during their monthly cycles
and it can be used to help women with healthy breasts stay
healthy. It can be a way of teaching and encouraging them
to do self-massage.
One woman who had been experiencing very painful
breasts in her third month of pregnancy, made this comment
after receiving therapeutic breast massage: “I feel
great. It feels like my breasts are a part of me now. I feel
more integrated in my body.” Another woman, who had
experienced chronic stinging pain in her breasts, said she
felt wonderful after one session, and that the pain had not
returned in several weeks. A woman, who acknowledged that
she had always had emotional issues about her body, said the
breast massage made her feel more comfortable with her breasts
and her body. “It felt safe and made me feel okay with
myself.”
The techniques I use and teach are very gentle,
non-invasive and respectful of the individual needs of women.
In this work specific protocols are followed. Clear intention,
communication and consent are vital concerns. Overall my commitment
is to give women the knowledge and skills to inspire, support
and empower them to take responsibility for their own health
care. A combination of self-care, coupled with the support
of knowledgeable healthcare providers and medical assistance
when necessary should inspire women to feel empowered. It
is time to release the mask of fear that has for too long
clouded the issue of breast health.
©2002 Mary Kathleen Rose
Mary Kathleen Rose, CMT, has been practicing
and teaching massage and wellness education for over 20 years.
With a particular interest in women’s health issues,
she uses massage, yoga, nutrition, herbology and expressive
arts to support women of all ages through life’s experiences
and changes. For information about private sessions, classes
and workshops she can be reached at 303-651-9375.
Resources: Debra Curties, Breast
Massage. Curties-Overzet Publications. 1999. (888-649-5411)
Mary Kathleen Rose, The Gift of Touch. Hospice of Boulder
County, 1996.
Susun S. Weed, Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman
Way. Ash Tree Publishing: 1996.
COMFORT
TOUCH DVD - NOW AVAILABLE
This beautifully produced video introduces the
viewer to the principles and techniques of Comfort Touch,
a nurturing form of acupressure massage designed to be safe
and appropriate for the elderly and the ill. Drawing on her
many years of experience practicing and teaching this work
in home-care and medical settings, Mary Kathleen Rose shares
the essential elements of Comfort Touch with demonstrations
of its applications in the seated, supine and side-lying positions.
This program will inspire the viewer - whether
healthcare professional or family caregiver - to offer the
benefits of touch to those for whom conventional massage may
cause discomfort or even injury. While Comfort Touch provides
soothing relief for the elderly and the ill, it can enhance
the quality of life for anyone in need of a caring touch.
Includes 40-page Video Guide, complete with
Principles and Techniques of Comfort Touch, Benefits of Comfort
Touch, Precautions in the Use of Touch and Self-Care Exercises
for the Caregiver. Yours
for $29.00 plus shipping.
Visit Susun Weed's breast health website: http://www.breasthealthbook.com