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Breast health issues in breast massage

Dear Therapists,

One of my regular clients, who is a generally healthy 50+ yr old, opened up during our last session to share that she has had life-long breast health issues: cysts, reoccurring mastitis, and recently a lump - which biopsy found to be benign - and then it disappeared on its own. (She also was never able to conceive, despite many years of trying - so clearly, hormones are seriously at play here)

It seemed to me, that she would benefit from breast massage and I suggested it as an option for our next session. She responded positively, though also expressed some concern that in her case, because of her many years of breast-health issues and the impression that her breast tissue is "filled with grits" - it might be contraindicated. I promised I would so more research, so here I am!

Your feedback and insight is requested.

Thanks, Olga

(By the way, I chose to post to this group as it is the one which comes up when searching "breast" on this community site - but if anyone recommends posting my question elsewhere I'd be grateful for direction).

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Olga Chwascinska on March 22, 2010 at 4:24am

Very interesting, Peter! Thank you.
Indeed, this client also complains of hip pain... I wonder how her gastric reflux fits into it too.
She has asked me for a referral to a chiropractic, and I work with a trusted fellow - actually a Yumeiho practitioner, so her intuition sounds right-on and with team work, we might be able to make quite the positive impact.
(As an update, her doctor confirmed that once the inflammation passed, her breasts were "back to normal" - meaning, they were not harmed by the massage, but also forbid her to continue with breast massage. :-(. She will be coming in for full-body work later this week.)
I'd love to see the studies/papers you refer to. I'll wait patiently until they are official - please let us know here, if possible, where one might access them.
Best,
O.

Permalink Reply by Peter Lelean on March 22, 2010 at 6:27am

Hi Olga . . thanks for the feedback . . perhaps worth also checking the bicip ligament/rotator cuff . . it affects lymph flow. Infraspinatus fascia can also be involved but that's getting into workshop territory. The doctor could perhaps be a little less precious . . I would continue LMD and loosening the upper thorax wherever tolerable. Another consideration for general consumption . . wire bras can irritate a point on the rib where the two intersect at about 7 o'clock position on the right side . . the resulting sore spot can trigger an antalgic response into the neck via the scalenes, soon involving the entire thorax. Hopefully your chiro will join in here in some way. The papers I referred to are "in the works". Do you have skype? Cheers p

Olga Chwascinska said:

Very interesting, Peter! Thank you.
Indeed, this client also complains of hip pain... I wonder how her gastric reflux fits into it too. She has asked me for a referral to a chiropractic, and I work with a trusted fellow - actually a Yumeiho practitioner, so her intuition sounds right-on and with team work, we might be able to make quite the positive impact. (As an update, her doctor confirmed that once the inflammation passed, her breasts were "back to normal" - meaning, they were not harmed by the massage, but also forbid her to continue with breast massage. :-(. She will be coming in for full-body work later this week.) I'd love to see the studies/papers you refer to. I'll wait patiently until they are official - please let us know here, if possible, where one might access them.
Best,
O.

Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on September 2, 2010 at 7:33am

Too bad that she doesn't want to continue Breast Massage, which she seems to desperately need. But at least you didn't lose the client and perhaps more can be done at a later time.

I am wondering if you checked the axillary nodes before working on the breasts. If there was congestion there it could have caused the swelling as you got the breast to drain but with nowhere to go.. I always make sure the nodes are not congested first. Palpate the area from armpit to edge of pectoralis major. This is best done standing against the table facing her head and holding her arm across in front of you at a 45 degree angle. Use the free hand close to the table to palpate.

Just something to keep in mind for the next one, if this wasn't done.

Olga Chwascinska said:

Very interesting, Peter! Thank you.
Indeed, this client also complains of hip pain... I wonder how her gastric reflux fits into it too.
She has asked me for a referral to a chiropractic, and I work with a trusted fellow - actually a Yumeiho practitioner, so her intuition sounds right-on and with team work, we might be able to make quite the positive impact.
(As an update, her doctor confirmed that once the inflammation passed, her breasts were "back to normal" - meaning, they were not harmed by the massage, but also forbid her to continue with breast massage. :-(. She will be coming in for full-body work later this week.)
I'd love to see the studies/papers you refer to. I'll wait patiently until they are official - please let us know here, if possible, where one might access them.
Best,
O.

Permalink Reply by Olga Chwascinska on September 8, 2010 at 1:46am

Thank you Daniel, for this insight and method of axillary palpation. I always do palpate the axillary and finish the area (before moving to the breast) with a light flushing stroke - but I've done it standing at the head after several flushing strokes of the neck's lymphatic nodes followed by a few releasing arm movements. I then lift the client's arm over their head and place it on the (empty) headrest and go into the work on the axillary and breast this way.

I'll be interested to try your suggested positioning next time.

Thanks! O.

Daniel Cohen said:

Too bad that she doesn't want to continue Breast Massage, which she seems to desperately need. But at least you didn't lose the client and perhaps more can be done at a later time.

I am wondering if you checked the axillary nodes before working on the breasts. If there was congestion there it could have caused the swelling as you got the breast to drain but with nowhere to go.. I always make sure the nodes are not congested first. Palpate the area from armpit to edge of pectoralis major. This is best done standing against the table facing her head and holding her arm across in front of you at a 45 degree angle. Use the free hand close to the table to palpate.

Just something to keep in mind for the next one, if this wasn't done.