Dear Pamela,
How horrible for you! And what an ignorant person to believe that cancer is contagious and spread by massage!
I had a similar experience at a spa in Shoal Bay. I entered the spa, filled out the form and included the fact that I'd had breast conserving surgery months ago. I was then shown to a change room where I stripped off and put on a gown.
When I was taken to the massage room, took off the robe and lay on the table as instructed. Then the therapist checked the form and told me she wasn't permitted to massage me withing twelve months of surgery. I told her that my surgeon had cleared me to have a massage and that I had already had several massages at a treatment centre near my home. She left me in the treatment room to go and talk with her boss.
I sat there for a good fifteen minutes knowing I was being discussed. I put my robe back on. I felt humiliated, embarrassed and angry that I'd been made to strip down only to be told that nobody was prepared to touch me. Eventually the manager came back with the therapist and asked me if I had a letter from my doctor. I replied, "No, because I'm a competent adult that wouldn't deliberately do something to damage my health! If my doctor hadn't cleared me I wouldn't be asking for a massage." At this stage I was so upset I was crying. This holiday was the first my husband and I had taken since the end of treatment and I was very much looking forward to having a massage as part of feeling good about my post-surgical body. Instead I felt like I had some kind of contagious disease!
I returned to my room. When I felt a bit better I went back to the spa (it was within the hotel complex) and gave them two pieces of advice:
1. If there are categories of people that you won't massage it would be better to state this up front, rather than humilate people after they have stripped off.
2. Management and staff should read the excellent Cancer Council brochure on massage.
I have since found a specialist oncology masseuse. You can google to see if there's one near you. She's been a big part of my recovery. She even helped to improve the appearance of my mastectomy scars and my mobility through my chest muscles. Most importantly, she has helped me to feel well and confident in my post-cancer body.
She's also much cheaper than a fancy spa! 🙂
Best wishes with your recovery. I hope that sharing my story has helped you to know that you are not alone in experiencing ignorance and prejudice. Leave a review on trip advisor. I did.
