17/10/2025
🎀 When I’ve been asked about medical permission for massage therapy during treatment, even tho I’ll say you don’t need it, I do say to talk to your medical team about it. Mostly for awareness so they know what other therapies your keen to try & for confidence for yourself that you are ok for alternative therapies 🤝
Thank you to everyone who voted in my poll.
Recently, I attended an oncology medical conference hosted by UKASCC. I posed a question that I already knew the answer to, but I wanted to spark a real conversation with the GPs, consultants, and clinicians present.
Their responses were clear and unanimous: there is absolutely no need to seek permission from medical professionals before offering oncology massage. The only person's consent that is relevant is your client's. What matters most to the oncology team is working with them for the benefit of your client!
They agreed that the best point of contact is often the nurse specialist. The nurse specialist usually has the most up-to-date understanding of the client’s treatment pathway and can act as a bridge, ensuring that all forms of care are aligned. By introducing yourself to them, you demonstrate respect for the clinical team and position yourself as part of the wider circle of care.
This reinforces what we already know, that an integrated approach is always best. When massage therapists work in partnership with the medical team, our clients benefit from safer, more cohesive, and reassuring care.
Integration is not about seeking permission; it’s about communication, collaboration, and creating trust.
