I am try to find some information about manual lymph drainage, post salivary gland cancer. For some reason since my original surgery back in 06, I keep getting inlarged lymph nodes around the orignal incision site. I had one big one removed last fall and it showed no further cancer (Yeah!) however they keep swelling. I had the lymph drainage last week and of course now I am afraid I may be spreading the cancer. Has anyone had this therapy does it help or should it be avoided?
Signed, always a little scared!!!

If you are talking about lymphatic drainage massage therapy, I had an ENT at a top hospital recommend this to me as one way to help because I had (still have?) lymphedema around my lower tongue which may be part of what is impreding my swallowing.

With all the massage therapists around where I live (there is a massage shcool in my city so there are scads of them), I was only able to find one trained in lymphatic drainage. I saw her a couple of times and I didn;t notice any appreciable difference in my tongue or swallowing. It is a very gentle massage tehcnique, though, and she did teach me how to do the basics of it on myself, which I did.

I don't think it could hurt you.

Nelie

I went to a Physical Therapist for this and it did help quite a bit. This has the added advantage of being paid for by insurance which I doubt that a massage is. The PT also did intra and extra oral massage to improve saliva and avoid trismus. Also stretched neck/arm muscles that were screwed up from neck dissection. I'd talk to my doctor about getting a script and a recommendation to PT who does this. You should also have cleared massage with him before having it.

Take care,
Eileen

I had it done after a surgery where my lymphatic system was impaired (not Cancer related), and it worked wonders. I would check and see if you cannot get it covered through your insurance. The benefits were fantastic, but it got to be very expensive as I paid out of pocket each time. There were not too many skilled in it in my area either. I wish you luck with it!

I found a person trained in manual lymph drainage in my area from the Academy of Lymphatic Studies website.
http://www.acols.com/
I selected "find a therapist" then entered my zip code and received the name of a trained therapist by return email.

I've just begun therapy and I'm pleased so far. The only down side is that the therapist is a massage therapist not a physical therapist so my insurance doesn't pay.

marilyn

Thank you for your replies. I have been reading about this terapy and I think I will give it a try. Also, massage will hopefully breakdown some of the scar tissue in my neck.
Went for my check up yesterday with Oncolgist and seems I am okay and FREE for another 4 months!!! Yippee.
Wishing you all well.

Dr JohDavidPollock is upset with the James Cancer Center at Ohio State for not admittt9ng to him that I have Cancer below my right ear and needs surgery.I wonder why it is when you are one of the big guns,, it getsharder to admitt a misatke.I shouod havd beeen finishin this treatment instead fo jts starting thme.Time to shake the BUSH maybe.