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

Recommended Episodes

Ep. 9 - Skin Care for Cancer Patients with Becky Kuehn
Ep. 2 - Standards in Oncology Massage Education with Mary Aguilera-Titus
Ep. 7 - Education is Power with Davonna Willis

In this episode of Collaborative Connections, host TC Luisi speaks with Eva Stasce, a Los Angeles-based hairstylist, beauty entrepreneur, and host of The Beauty Ritual Podcast. With more than 15 years in the beauty industry, Eva has worked with clients during cancer treatment, recovery, and survivorship, many of whom came to her through referrals from existing clients. This episode is part of A Petite Series, a set of short-form conversations within the Collaborative Connections Podcast. It looks at hair care as part of supportive care, and at how empathy, listening, and holding space shape the client experience when hair loss and physical changes are part of the cancer journey.

Eva shares why she lets each client lead the conversation and how she supports different choices around hair loss, from cold capping, to shaving the head, to waiting and adjusting the haircut over time. She explains why small acts of self-care can offer a sense of agency during a stressful time, and describes a gentle approach to hair and scalp care during treatment: plenty of moisture, minimal heat and tension, simple product formulations, and extra caution with color. She also talks about texture and color changes as hair grows back and the value of referring clients to a dermatologist or trichologist when new concerns come up. The episode closes with a discussion of the gap in oncology education for hairstylists and why cosmetology training could address both the technical and emotional sides of working with clients affected by cancer.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Hair care for clients during cancer treatment and recovery
Empathy, listening, and client-led consultations
Supporting choices around hair loss, cold capping, and shaving the head
Gentle hair and scalp care: moisture, heat, tension, and product choices
Hair texture and color changes in survivorship
Oncology education for hairstylists and cosmetology training

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

Recommended Episodes
Ep. 21 - Skin Cancer Awareness for Estheticians with Morag Currin
Ep. 22 - Skin Cancer in the Cockpit with Scott White: A survivor's firsthand experience with Mohs surgery, healing, and recovery.
Summit Series Episode - Scars, Fibrosis, and Rethinking "Fixing" with Cathy Ryan ([URL]): A manual therapy perspective on scar tissue and fibrosis.

In this episode of Collaborative Connections, host Ericka Clinton speaks with Allyson O'Brien, a clinical esthetician with more than 20 years of experience, board-certified nutritionist, and educator with Oncology Training International. This episode is part of the podcast's skin cancer awareness series, and it focuses on what happens after the skin cancer is removed. Allyson specializes in scar revision following skin cancer surgery, including Mohs procedures, and shares how she first discovered oncology aesthetics, what the first conversation with a new client looks like, and why building trust and explaining the process in plain language is central to her work.

Allyson walks through her approach step by step: supporting the skin with gentle, moisture-focused and antioxidant-rich care once stitches are removed, introducing gentle peels around the four to six week mark, and adding microneedling when appropriate, typically two to three months after surgery or later depending on the client and the surgeon's guidance. She discusses contraindications for microneedling, the importance of scanning the skin and referring clients back to their medical team when something looks concerning, and staying within scope of practice. The episode closes with a conversation about raising awareness of oncology aesthetics within hospitals and cancer centers, and what Allyson wants every person living with a new scar to know about healing.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Scar revision after skin cancer surgery and Mohs procedures
How peels and microneedling support post-surgical scar tissue
Realistic healing timelines and when to begin treatment
Contraindications and safety considerations for microneedling
Communicating with clients and coordinating with surgeons and oncology teams
Building awareness and referral pathways for oncology aesthetics

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

In this episode of Collaborative Connections, host Ericka Clinton speaks with Scott White, a 61-year-old airline pilot with 38 years of flying experience and a skin cancer survivor. This is the first episode in the podcast's skin cancer awareness series, and Scott's story offers a unique and often overlooked perspective on UV exposure risk. Having spent 28 of his 38 flying years in the right seat of the aircraft, Scott began connecting the dots when pre-cancerous areas and diagnosed cancers appeared almost exclusively on the right side of his body. He shares what pilots were told about cockpit window protection, why that turned out to be incorrect, and how a new generation of pilots is beginning to take sun safety seriously.
Scott also opens up about his diagnoses, including basal cell carcinoma on his right arm, squamous cell carcinoma requiring two Mohs procedures on his right cheek totaling more than 60 stitches, and a squamous cell carcinoma discovered in the white of his right eye. He discusses the psychological weight of treatment, the fear of losing his FAA medical certificate and his career, and what the healing process actually looked like compared to what he was told to expect. The episode closes with Scott's advice to fellow pilots and a candid conversation about how his wife, an esthetician, has shaped both his awareness and his daily skin care habits.

Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Occupational UV exposure risk for airline pilots
How seat position in the cockpit correlates with skin cancer location on the body
The myth that cockpit windows provide UV protection
Changing sun safety habits among a new generation of pilots
Cosmic radiation at altitude and emerging cancer concerns for flight crews
Overview of Scott's skin cancer diagnoses and treatment timeline
Discovery of squamous cell carcinoma in the white of the eye
Mohs surgery experience on the face and arm
The psychological toll of skin cancer treatment
Fear of losing FAA medical certification and career
The FAA's evolving position on pilot sun protection
Why skin cancer deserves to be taken as seriously as other cancers
Recovery, body image, and healing from facial surgery
Lifelong monitoring, interferon eye drops, and ongoing FAA compliance
Gaps in pre-procedure education and healing expectations
Post-diagnosis skin care and the value of regular dermatology follow-up
The role of an esthetician spouse in awareness and referral habits
Advice for pilots who have not yet addressed skin cancer risk

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

In this episode of Collaborative Connections, host Erica Clinton speaks with Morag Currin, oncology aesthetician, educator, and S4OM board member, about the role estheticians play in early skin cancer detection. With more than 30 years in practice and as the founder of The Soul Silo, Morag has pioneered oncology aesthetics education since 2007. She discusses why estheticians are often positioned to notice changes in the skin before a dermatologist ever sees a client, how to identify benign versus suspicious lesions, and the importance of consistent client communication and documentation.

The conversation also covers melanoma risk factors including FAMMM syndrome and mole count, the impact of certain cancer treatment drugs on skin pigmentation, lesser known sources of UV exposure, and the unique considerations for detecting skin cancer in clients with darker skin tones. Morag closes with a candid discussion on fair compensation for oncology aesthetics services and what she wants every new esthetician to understand about preparing to serve clients navigating skin cancer.

Topics Discussed here:

Why skin cancer awareness belongs in the esthetician's scope of practice
Recognizing and documenting suspicious lesions over time
Common gaps in foundational skin cancer education for estheticians
Sunscreen myths, reapplication, and the vitamin D conversion balance
FAMMM syndrome and mole count as melanoma risk indicators
Skin pigmentation changes related to immunotherapy and targeted melanoma drugs
Immunosuppression and increased skin cancer risk
Lesser known UV exposure sources, including gel manicure lamps and tanning beds
Lifestyle and occupational sun exposure history
Mole mapping, intake forms, and referral practices
Detecting skin cancer in clients with darker skin tones
Skincare approach for clients in active cancer treatment
Advocacy for fair compensation in oncology aesthetics

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

What if everything you thought you knew about the lymphatic system… wasn’t quite right?
In this episode of the Healing Summit Speaker Series, we sit down with Nicola McGill to explore the misconceptions surrounding lymphatics, the subtle power of manual lymphatic drainage, and why education is the key to clinical confidence.
This conversation offers a glimpse into her upcoming session at the 2026 Virtual Oncology Massage & Esthetics Healing Summit.

🔹 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Why the lymphatic system is widely misunderstood in both medicine and massage therapy
The truth behind “detox” and what the lymphatic system actually does
Common myths clinicians believe about lymphatic drainage
The difference between general massage and true manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)
How subtle techniques can create meaningful clinical outcomes
Why education is essential for building confidence in this work

🔹 ABOUT THE GUEST
Nicola McGill, LLSA, LMT, CLT-LANA, is a clinician and educator with over 30 years of experience in manual lymphatic drainage and oncology care. She is known for helping practitioners deepen their understanding of the lymphatic system and apply precise, effective techniques that support patients with complex conditions.

🔹 CONNECT TO SUMMIT (CTA)
This conversation continues at the 2026 Virtual Oncology Massage & Esthetics Healing Summit
🗓 April 26, 2026
🕐 1:00–7:30 PM ET
👉 Explore the full summit + agenda:
https://www.s4om.org/education/virtual-in-person-summits/2026-oncology-massage-esthetics-healing-summit/

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