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What is the Lymphatic System?

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a specialized massage modality that gently assists the lymphatic system in maintaining the body’s fluid balance, blood circulation, and immune mechanisms. The system’s network of vessels and nodes contains lymph, a mixture of water, proteins, immune system components, waste products, and other remnants of cell metabolism. Lymph nodes, which filter out the debris, are found throughout the body, with especially large groups of them in the neck, armpits, and groin. These major collections of lymph nodes ensure that the lymph passes through as many nodes as possible before it returns to the circulatory system.

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Cancer Recovery & Treatment Benefits of MLD

At Frisco Massage Therapy our ACOLS Certified therapist has trained to work with patients with cancer and histories of cancer treatments. This includes a comprehensive knowledge of oncology; including epidemiology, metastasis, and cancer treatments. Contraindications, bodywork considerations and protocols for common side effects of cancer and its treatments such as Lymphedema and Axillary Web Syndrome are fully studied and understood as part of the training protocols. Our MLD therapist aligns the oncology course of treatment with the doctors personal recommendations and guidelines for safe and comfortable lymphatic ministrations. 

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Notes for ongoing cancer treatment with MLD: 

  • Consultation required before treatment can begin (over the phone or in person).

  • Can be performed while doing chemotherapy with supervising doctors approval (may require a current pathology report).

  • Can be performed on tail end of each chemotherapy treatment.

  • Can be performed while in remission - detox off chemotherapy, prevention and management of lymphedema.

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Oncology MLD Benefits:

  • Improves activity of lymph vessels

  • Improves reabsorption in the body and promotes drainage accumulated build-up

  • Decreases fibrotic tissue build-up

  • Reroutes lymph flow from blocked areas to healthy areas

  • Provides overall analgesic effects on body

  • Helps with pain

  • Fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Tissue healing on incision sites

  • Medical devices

  • Reconstruction

  • Peripheral neuropathy

  • Lymphedema risk

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