Therapists and most students of massage therapy are hesitant or fearful about touching people with cancer. Debra Curties provides the groundwork for students to feel comfortable addressing issues around cancer and massage. The information in Massage Therapy and Cancer is motivating and understandable. The accuracy and thorough documentation of the material reinforces the confidence of students. Instructors of Pathology and Massage courses utilize this book as a reference to it for cancer lectures, information on what cancer is, tumors and malignancies, cancer therapies, and the integration of massage therapy with cancer treatments. The case histories give the book a grounded and realistic feeling. The students are well accustomed to case histories and appreciate the integration of the science and hands-on real-life experiences.

From an educator's perspective, the author has successfully met and produced several criteria important in a curriculum planning. Organizing the book with comprehensive facts pertaining to cancer, along with integrated application and internal problem solving, Debra allows for expectation to competency based instruction and learning. By concluding with the case histories, she has melded analysis, synthesis, and evaluation processes to produce a critical thinking student, creating informed learners capable of appropriate massage treatment planning.

Debra has provided a well-developed and fundamental progression to help students feel confident in their ability to treatment clients with cancer.

Barry Antoniow
Executive Director
Kiné-Concept Institute Ontario