Woman denied spa massage due to cancer advocates for industry change

A woman who was refused a massage at a spa because of her illness has supported calls to address the “misinformation” surrounding treatments and their suitability for cancer patients. Sindy Sidhu from Warrington stated that her negative experience has left her feeling too intimidated to try other spas. She has instead been receiving assistance from the Made For Life Foundation, a charity campaigning for spas and salons to eliminate policies that prevent staff from treating cancer patients. Carden Park Spa in Cheshire has endorsed the campaign, and director Emma Pridding admitted that the industry “had been a little guarded” in treating individuals with cancer, citing insurance concerns and unfounded fears of causing harm. Amanda Winwood, founder of the Made For Life Foundation, reported that a significant proportion of women attending her events have been turned away from various spas, salons, or independent therapists. She informed BBC Radio Manchester that there is a considerable lack of awareness within the spa community regarding how to care for people with cancer. She explained that this issue begins at the college level, where some spa therapists are trained that massaging cancer patients is harmful. Ms. Winwood added that insurance companies are another factor contributing to this problem. She stated: “Often insurance companies will refuse to insure spas to welcome people with cancer, which is an absolute travesty as far as I’m concerned, and contravenes the Equality Act 2010.” Under the Equality Act, cancer is classified as a disability, meaning all anti-discrimination laws apply to individuals with cancer or those who have had cancer in the past. Historically, it was thought that receiving a massage when one has cancer might cause cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body. However, Cancer Research UK has since confirmed that no research has proven this to be true. A spokesperson for complimentary therapies at The Christie Cancer Hospital mentioned that “historically there had been some misunderstandings about the safety of offering massage to patients with cancer.” They added that the caution was “understandable when spas were first open” but research has demonstrated that massage for patients can be “highly beneficial to their physical, psychological, and emotional health and wellbeing.” They also advised: “However, deep tissue massage is best avoided, and it’s crucial to provide the therapist with your full medical history so they can identify any contraindications and adjust your treatment accordingly.” Ms. Sidhu, 60, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, remarked that “touch is something that you do need.” She further explained that after indicating her cancer diagnosis on a form, a spa informed her that she could not receive any of the treatments. Ms. Sidhu continued: “Now I don’t ask the question.” She added: “It’s ironic because I have a therapist at the hospice that gives me massages but when it comes to spas, I don’t ask because I felt quite intimidated, and I don’t want to feel like that again.” Instead, Ms. Sidhu began attending Tea and Therapy events, which are wellbeing gatherings for people with cancer, where they can socialize, receive guidance, and get massages. Tea and Therapy is organized across the UK by Amanda Winwood, founder of the Made for Life Foundation, and Jamie Edwards, a performance coach from Manchester. Its objective is to offer a safe space for women with cancer, serving as a temporary solution for the problems within certain segments of the spa industry. Ms. Winwood commented: “It’s important to have facilities like this to stop the social isolation that happens when you get a cancer diagnosis.” Mr. Edwards added: “Change needs to happen. The impact of having these events is going to be down the road and we can only do that by speaking about it, having conversations and not avoiding the difficult topics.” If you, or someone you know, have been affected by cancer, visit BBC Action Line for information on where you can access support. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk and via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.