CAREFREE, Ariz. (March 25, 2004) - It is said that skilled, attentive
touch can piece the body together again, as well as the heart, mind
and spirit. This is the premise of Cancer Massage, a sophisticated technique
currently offered at the AAA Five Diamond Boulders
Resort & Golden Door® Spa - A Wyndham Luxury Resort set
in the Sonoran Desert foothills of Carefree, Ariz. Cancer massage is
endorsed by some of the leading cancer centers around the world such
as the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in New Hampshire, Memorial Sloan-Kettering
in New York City and The Marie Curie Cancer Center in Liverpool, England.
At The Boulders, it is offered to guests who have undergone surgery,
radiation and chemotherapy as a result of their diagnosis. The specialized
treatment, however, is not available to immuno-suppressed patients (those
with a low white blood cell count) who may be especially susceptible
to communicable diseases.
“We strive to offer the emotional and spiritual wellness that
all human beings crave,” said Lorraine Park, director of the Golden
Door Spa at The Boulders. “Cancer massage can enhance this feeling
of well-being by offering the simple touch of the therapist’s hands,
something cancer patients are often deprived of during the medical treatment
process.”
The Golden Door Spa’s new offering has many supporters, including
The American Cancer Society which states that “everything surrounding
massage therapy, including a soothing environment, human touch and relaxed
muscles combine to make massage one of the most helpful complementary
therapies available to cancer patients.” The treatment is available
to cancer patients who have their doctor’s approval prior to arrival
at the Golden Door Spa. Each massage is customized to the needs of the
individual guest as each person’s response to cancer treatment
is unique. Bodyworkers at the Golden Door Spa who administer the service
use grapeseed oil to massage the guest in a gentle, careful manner.
Although Cancer Massage is not a cure for the disease, it does have
many healing benefits. Conscious massage has been shown to decrease
anxiety, nausea and fatigue and combat anemia. It can also help to soften
scar tissue and maintain appetite and weight. Above all, the Cancer
Massage treatment seeks to heal the spiritual and emotional spirit of
the guest by offering a therapeutic remedy to the invasive effects of
medical cancer care. Touch can help guests participate in their own
healing and restore hope.
Currently, the Golden Door Spa at the Boulders has a diverse group
of 20 therapists with various wellness backgrounds who are trained in
cancer massage. Many of the body treatments regularly associated with
the luxury spa experience can be supplemented with cancer massage work
to further enhance the spiritual benefits of the practice. This includes
Reiki, Shiatsu, Swedish massage, Reflexology, Acupressure and Cranialsacral
Therapy, which are also offered at The Boulders.
Set among 12-million-year-old granite boulder formations in the Sonoran
Desert foothills, the award-winning Boulders Resort & Golden Door
Spa features 160 guest casitas and 55 one-, two- and three-bedroom villas,
eight restaurants and a lounge, eight tennis courts, two championship,
18-hole golf courses and a 33,000-square-foot Golden Door Spa.
Wyndham Luxury Resorts are prestige properties that offer discerning
travelers exceptional accommodations in dramatic, natural settings,
coupled with highly attentive service and the finest in golf and spa
amenities. The luxury collection includes The Boulders Resort &
Golden Door Spa in Arizona; Carmel Valley Ranch and the Golden Door
in California; The Cabins & Penthouses at The Peaks in Colorado;
Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad near Manzanillo, Mexico; Las Casitas Village
in Puerto Rico; the Kelley House and The Harbor View in Martha’s
Vineyard; and the Great Eastern - A Wyndham Luxury Hotel in London.
Wyndham Luxury Resorts are owned and managed by Dallas-based Wyndham
International, Inc. (AMEX:WBR). For reservations, call your travel planner
or Wyndham Luxury Resorts at 888-472-6229.
