Massage and Meditation Services

Mass General Cancer Center at Newton Wellesley offers a variety of mind and body therapies to help reduce stress, promote physical healing, and improve overall health. All therapies are modified for the health and safety of each individual patient and are appropriate before, during, and after treatment. We encourage collaboration with your medical team should you have any questions about our complementary therapies.

Oncology Massage

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment
Where: Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley, Lower Level, Integrative Support Services
More Information: Please call 617-831-7430

Oncology massage is a safe and gentletouch therapy than can help you feel better during your treatment and beyond. Patients find that massage helps to improve their sense of well-being and quality of life by easing side effects of cancer and cancer treatments such as pain and discomfort, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress. Our therapist will work with you to design a customized massage session to meet your individual needs and goals. Oncology massage sessions are available in the privacy of a treatment room in the Integrative Support Services area. Hand and foot massages are available by request in the Infusion area at no charge.

Michelle Shields, LMT, BCTMB, is Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley’s experienced oncology massage therapist.

Reiki

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment
Where: Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley, Lower Level, Integrative Support Services
More Information: Please call 617-831-7430
Cost: Initial 30-minute session is free; additional sessions are $30 (30 minutes) and $60 (60 minutes)

Reiki is an ancient Japanese therapy used to promote relaxation, reduce stress and ease side effects of cancer treatments.  Reiki involves gentle, non-invasive placement of hands on the fully clothed body.  The goal of a Reiki session is to facilitate one’s own natural healing response to improve physical, mental, and emotional health.  Reiki is a safe and pleasant experience that many find deeply relaxing.  Reiki is not a substitute for medical treatment, but rather an integrative therapy that compliments medical treatment. 

Reiki sessions are available in the privacy of a treatment room in the Integrative Support Services area. Reiki sessions are available by request in the Infusion area at no charge.

Virtual Well-Being Visit

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment
Where: Virtual appointments on Zoom
More information: Please call 617-831-7430
Cost: Free of charge

Virtual Well-Being Visit at Mass General Cancer Center at Newton-Wellesley is designed to introduce the basic concepts of meditation and mindfulness for people living with cancer. Patients find that meditation helps to lower stress, strengthen their immune system, and enhance their overall quality of life. This program is appropriate for all levels of ability and experience, including beginners.

Individual sessions provide guidance on mindfulness, meditation and various breathing techniques to ease stress, and release tension.