Collaborative Connections Podcast | Conversations on Cancer Care for Oncology Massage Therapists & Estheticians

Imagine being able to feel tissue changes caused by radiation therapy—without seeing the patient or knowing their medical history. That is exactly what today’s guest, Holly McMillan, M.C.D., CCC-SLP, LMP, CLT, demonstrated in her groundbreaking research collaboration with Dr. Geoff Bove at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

In this episode, Holly shares her extraordinary journey from licensed massage therapist to Senior Research Speech Language Pathologist and Co-Director of the Trismus Clinic at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. She discusses her expertise in fibrosis, lymphedema management, and head and neck cancer rehabilitation, and why manual therapy is emerging as a critical tool in oncology survivorship. As a doctoral candidate and NIH-funded clinical trial collaborator, Holly is at the forefront of evidence-based approaches that integrate touch, research, and patient empowerment.
Listeners will hear insights from Holly’s recently published studies, including safety and feasibility findings on manual therapy in head and neck cancer, and her remarkable work showing that trained therapists can palpate physiologic tissue changes after radiation—even under blinded conditions. This episode uncovers the science behind what oncology massage therapists have long known: the hands can detect what machines cannot, and healing begins with informed touch.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:
The clinical value of manual therapy in head and neck cancer rehabilitation
How radiation affects tissue structure, lymphatics, and healing
Blinded research findings on palpating irradiated tissue
Empowering patients through at-home fibrosis and lymphedema protocols
Intraoral manual therapy: safety, lubrication, and function restoration
Debunking the myth that mature scars cannot change

View extended shownotes here

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

Follow S4OM on your favorite social media platforms!
Facebook: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) | Auburn ME (facebook.com)
Instagram: Society for Oncology Massage (@s4om_org) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: S4OM_Org (@s4om_org) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Society for Oncology Massage | LinkedIn

Discover how oncology massage and palliative care are transforming patient well-being in Italy—and why these healing therapies may change lives worldwide. In this inspiring episode of Collaborative Connections, host Ericka Clinton sits down with Daniela Panzeri, Italy’s sole regional champion for the Society for Oncology Massage, to explore her groundbreaking work integrating massage therapy into hospice and palliative care settings.
Daniela shares her journey from the Netherlands to Italy, detailing her unique role as the only massage therapist across three hospices, and reveals how compassionate touch can bring profound comfort to patients facing cancer, dementia, and chronic illness. You’ll learn about the collaborative power of combining oncology massage with music therapy, how Daniela is bridging the gap between healthcare professions, and her mission to educate both practitioners and the public—including writing a powerful new book that captures moving patient stories.
If you’re passionate about holistic cancer care, integrative therapies, or seeking inspiration from real-world innovators making a difference, this episode is packed with insights, encouragement, and hope for the future of supportive care. Tune in to find out how one woman’s dedication is shaping a new standard of care in Italy and beyond!
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Expanding oncology massage in Italy
Integrative care for palliative patients
Collaboration with oncology aesthetics professionals
Sharing patient stories through literature
Education and networking in oncology massage

Click here to view extended shownotes

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

Follow S4OM on your favorite social media platforms!
Facebook: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) | Auburn ME (facebook.com)
Instagram: Society for Oncology Massage (@s4om_org) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: S4OM_Org (@s4om_org) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Society for Oncology Massage | LinkedIn

In this episode of ‘Collaborative Connections,’ hosted by Ericka Clinton and sponsored by the Society for Oncology Massage and the Society for Oncology Esthetics, we feature Jill Cole, a licensed massage therapist and PhD candidate at the University of Kentucky.
Jill shares her journey of becoming a PhD candidate in Rehabilitation and Health Science, focusing on her research in oncology massage, particularly a feasibility study she is conducting at the UK Healthcare Integrative Medicine and Health. She explains the crossover randomized control trial of massage therapy during cancer treatment and discusses the importance and challenges of touch therapy research.
Throughout the conversation, Jill emphasizes the need for more biological and large-scale studies in the field and how empirical evidence can support the growth of the massage therapy profession. She highlights the collaborative nature of research and the critical role of massage therapists in advancing the profession through evidence-based practices.

Topics discussed:
Innovative oncology massage research
Understanding the feasibility study framework
Effects of massage on pain and anxiety
Benefits of interdisciplinary PhD programs
Importance of touch therapy research
Research and growth in massage therapy

Click here to read the extended shownotes

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

Follow S4OM on your favorite social media platforms!
Facebook: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) | Auburn ME (facebook.com)
Instagram: Society for Oncology Massage (@s4om_org) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: S4OM_Org (@s4om_org) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Society for Oncology Massage | LinkedIn

In this episode of 'Collaborative Connections,' hosted by Ericka Clinton and sponsored by the Society for Oncology Massage and the Society for Oncology Esthetics, massage therapist and educator Kathleen Leeson returns to discuss breast reconstruction surgery.

Kathleen, a certified lymphedema therapist, health coach, and yoga instructor, shares her expertise on different types of breast reconstruction surgeries, particularly diep flap and implant-based methods. She discusses the physical and emotional aspects of post-surgery recovery, including the importance of lymphatic drainage and scar management.

Kathleen also addresses the disparities in access to breast reconstruction and offers practical advice for clients dealing with surgical scars and chronic pain.

Topics Discussed:
Flap-Based Reconstruction Surgery
Diep Flap Surgery Details
Post-Operative Lymphatic Drainage
Surgeon Referral Importance
Swelling Management Techniques
Compression Garment Strategies
Managing Recovery Expectations
Use of Liposuction
Post-Surgery Concerns
Managing Scar Pain

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:07 Breast Reconstruction Surgery Overview
03:12 Deep Flap Surgery Details
08:03 Implant-Based Reconstruction and Fat Grafting
11:30 Advocating for Better Outcomes
12:13 Advances in Oncology and Fat Grafting
13:03 Equity in Breast Reconstruction
14:16 Innovations in Surgical Techniques
16:19 Capsular Contracture and Pain Management
19:24 Liposuction and Fat Transfer
27:38 Lymphatic Drainage and Healing
33:04 Scar Management and Emotional Healing

More About Kathleen Lisson, LMT, CLT
Sign up for Kathleen’s Free CE class: https://plasticsurgeryrecoverymassage.teachable.com/p/manual-lymphatic-drainage-more-than-edema-reduction
Follow Kathleen on Instagram: @stressreductionforlymphedema
Learn more about Kathleen on her website: http://kathleenhelenlisson.com/
Kathleen Helen Lisson is board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork and is a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. She helps clients with lymphedema and lipedema as well as clients who have had plastic surgery and reconstructive surgery after cancer. She has spoken at the American Vein and Lymphatic Society, Fat Disorders Resource Society, International Society of Lymphology, MLD UK, National Lymphedema Network and Society for Oncology Massage conferences. Kathleen’s writing focuses on providing education resources for her clients with lymphedema and lipedema and her fellow Lymphedema Therapists. She is the author of Swollen, Bloated and Puffy, Lipedema Treatment Guide, Plastic Surgery Recovery Handbook, Southern California Plastic Surgery Cookbook, Mindful Strategies for Adults with Adverse Childhood Experiences and Stress Reduction for Lymphedema. She is a coauthor of the Standard of Care for Lipedema in the United States, which was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and published in the journal Phlebology. While not working, Kathleen enjoys historical fiction, running and yoga. She lives with her husband Arun and their dog in San Diego, CA.

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

Follow S4OM on your favorite social media platforms!
Facebook: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) | Auburn ME (facebook.com)
Instagram: Society for Oncology Massage (@s4om_org) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: S4OM_Org (@s4om_org) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Society for Oncology Massage | LinkedIn

In this episode of 'Collaborative Connections,' hosted by Clinton, registered massage therapist Janet Penny and curriculum specialist Rebecca Sturgeon explore their collaborative journey in writing 'Oncology Massage - An Integrative Approach to Cancer Care.' They discuss the inspiration behind their partnership, the challenges of compiling a comprehensive guide, and the balance between research and writing.
The conversation highlights key chapters such as the intake and therapeutic relationship, and emphasizes the role of community support, personal growth, and the aim to enrich the field of oncology massage. Penny and Sturgeon hope their work inspires others and integrates oncology massage into broader healthcare practices.

Topics discussed:
Effective Collaboration in Cancer Care
Growing oncology massage awareness
Challenges and breakthroughs in writing

More About Janet Penny
Visit Janet's website
Janet Penny is a registered massage therapist in Ottawa, Canada. Her massage practice focus on people affected by cancer provides the challenges and inspiration that create deeply satisfying work. Janet provides S4OM accredited oncology massage training throughout Canada and is the co-author of Oncology Massage: An integrative approach to cancer care.

More About Rebecca Sturgeon
My clients and I decide together what is important in their session, giving my clients a sense of control that they may have lost. I create and hold a space where my clients are deeply listened to and their wishes honored. At my core, I am a teacher, and sharing knowledge with my clients, their families and other professionals is something I love to do.
I have advanced training in oncology massage and manual lymphatic drainage. I am also an oncology massage educator through Healwell (www.healwell.org), and a preferred provider with the Society for Oncology Massage.

To learn more about the Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) visit http://www.s4om.org

Follow S4OM on your favorite social media platforms!
Facebook: Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM) | Auburn ME (facebook.com)
Instagram: Society for Oncology Massage (@s4om_org) • Instagram photos and videos
Twitter: S4OM_Org (@s4om_org) / Twitter
LinkedIn: Society for Oncology Massage | LinkedIn