As a two-time cancer survivor, esthetician Bobby Jo Rogers is familiar with the range of emotions that comes with hearing the diagnosis from the doctor and undergoing major surgery and treatment.
Her cancer experiences inspired her to become certified as an oncology esthetics practitioner trained to provide services to cancer patients at her Sweetpeas and Blueberries skin care spa in Aiea.
"When you go to school for estheticians or massage, they tell you to politely decline cancer patients," Rogers said. "But someone needs to take care of them."
Rogers, one of 15 licensed estheticians who attended a three-day workshop on oncology esthetics in Honolulu last month, said that more than healthy people, the sick need the human touch, comfort and attention that spa services can provide.
"It’s also important to go to someone who’s been trained and who knows what can and can’t be used as a treatment," she said.
The workshop, available only to licensed estheticians, offered an overview of major cancer treatments and their side effects as well as hands-on experience with cancer patients.
"We learned about the different types of surgeries, cancer drugs, oncology, the psychosocial impact, the lymphatic system and the immune system," said Maxine Drake, a certified oncology esthetician who organized the workshop. "It’s very clinical."
Drake is planning another workshop early next year offering oncology esthetics certification by Canadian-based Touch for Cancer, which was founded in 2007 by Morag Currin. Students pay for tuition and are certified upon completion.
Hawaii lags behind some mainland states such as California, which has more than 50 licensed oncology estheticians, but awareness is growing. Drake estimates there are about 10 licensed oncology estheticians in Hawaii.
Internationally, Drake estimated there are about 700.
The need is bound to grow, she noted. An estimated 1.6 million new cancer diagnoses are expected this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
"We just want to show the reality that this is not going away, and we need more people certified so we can take care of one another," said Drake.
FOR SANDRA Hoggan, 48, of Moanalua, who has been battling breast cancer since October 2004, spa services provide a respite for the mind, body and spirit at a difficult time.
"I used to have long, beautiful hair," Hoggan said. "When I lost my hair, I asked, ‘What do I do to balance out not having hair?’ How do you bring yourself up in spirit?"
A year after her initial diagnosis, Hoggan learned the cancer had metastasized to her spine. She has been through the gamut of treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and clinical trials.
The former Air National Guard member and mother of two just underwent radiation and was preparing for another round of chemotherapy. Side effects can include fatigue, pain and dry skin.
Oncology facials at Sweetpeas and Blueberries helped repair her skin and provided her with a relaxing and uplifting experience.
Rogers’ oncology facials, which cost $60, includes a light massage and hand treatment. Her other facials range between $75 and $110. When providing massage, the touch is light for cancer patients, she said. It’s important for the esthetician and client to communicate about medical conditions and treatments. Rogers has them fill out a comprehensive intake form.
Estheticians and massage therapists need to be aware that many cancer patients who have undergone surgery have had lymph nodes removed and can be prone to lymphedema, blockage of a lymph node. Various chemotherapies can also affect cancer patients differently. Cancer patients might also have a port inserted under the skin to take medications, so gentle handling is needed in those areas.
Oncology estheticians should be aware of which beauty products are acceptable for cancer patients, since some ingredients could exacerbate medical conditions. Rogers offers a line called Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare.
HOGGAN, who maintains a positive attitude despite all she is going through, said cancer patients should not hesitate to speak with their doctors or estheticians about seeking services that can be healing to both body and mind.
The mission has become personal for Rogers, 42, who wants to not only offer the services to cancer patients, but to encourage more in the profession to become certified oncology esthetics practitioners.
Besides her own battle with thyroid and kidney cancer in 2010, Rogers’ father, niece and nephew had cancer.
Her nephew, Tony Stevens, did not survive the disease, inspiring her to start a nonprofit called Tony’s Choice to educate more estheticians about treating cancer patients and offering services for free or at a discounted rate.
Find more information on Touch for Cancer at oncologyesthetics.com.
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For information on oncology esthetics workshops, contact Maxine Drake at 754-7730 or email maxine@med-ec.com. Sweetpeas and Blueberries, a Skin Care Spa, is at 99-128 Aiea Heights Drive No. 109; call 234-3459 or visit www.sweetpeasandblueberries.com.
