Oncology massage is a light-touch massage shown to improve the quality of life for people with a history or diagnosis of cancer. This massage reduces the side effects of conventional cancer treatments including pain, fatigue, anxiety, nausea and depression.

Oncology massage therapists who perform this work are formally trained, and hold a recognised qualification from Oncology Massage Training.

Kaori began working in the field of optometry in Japan and Australia before completing study to become a registered Remedial Massage Therapist. Kaori has since furthered her study in the fields of Oncology Massage and Caraniosacral Therapy. She has recently been accredited as a Lymphoedema practitioner.

Exercise Oncology is a branch of exercise-therapy that is now considered a standard part of best practice cancer care. The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia promote exercise therapy for all people, of any age, with any stage of cancer; noting it to significantly help  people to recover and thrive from pre-treatment to well into survivorship.

Exercise oncology programs are designed to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy. By strengthening your heart, lungs, bones and muscles your body is better able to direct medications to tumour areas; reducing damage to your organs and reducing the severity of treatment side effects such as fatigue, pain, weight-changes, swelling, depression and reduced mobility. The importance of exercise therapy doesn’t end when your cancer treatment concludes; there are a number of longer term treatment side effects (like damage to the heart and skeletal muscles) that only exercise therapy can minimise.

Samantha is a clinical psychologist who is passionate about helping people – including patients and their families – to cope with the challenges of cancer.   Samantha is warm and compassionate in her approach and believes that everyone, no matter what they are facing, has the potential to feel better.

Samantha has more than 20 years experience working in the field of oncology and has a strong commitment to evidence based psychology practice.  Samantha is an expert in cognitive-behavioural therapy and mindfulness and weaves these approaches into her therapy. Although her first love is clinical practice she provides clinical supervision to other psychologists and has a number of research publications in peer reviewed journals.  She has presented at a variety of conferences on the topic of helping people to cope with cancer.  As well as her work as a psychologist, Sam loves spending time with her family, bush walking, travel and learning new skills.

Jesse is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Accredited Exercise Scientist and Exercise and Sports Science Australia Member. Jesse graduated from the University of the Sunshine Coast with a Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Science in 2011.

Jesse is the Principal Exercise Physiologist at the Sunshine Coast Haematology & Oncology Clinic in Buderim. He has a big interest in implementing exercise as a treatment strategy to help with chronic conditions for all ages, specialising in exercise for cancer clients. Jesse believes exercise should be an adjunct therapy when going through cancer treatment, as it plays a crucial role in reducing the side effects pre, during and post cancer care. In conjunction with his work at SCHOC, Jesse is also the Director of MyEP- Clinical Exercise Physiology, with clinics located throughout the Sunshine Coast.

Jesse has experience working with clients of all ages, professions and sporting backgrounds. Whether it’s surfing the breaks along the Sunshine Coast coastline or general fitness, Jesse lives and breathes movement.

Sarah is an accredited practicing Dietitian-Nutritionist with 20 years’ experience working in a variety of clinical and leadership roles within the public and private healthcare sectors.

Sarah has a special interest in Cancer care, Nutrition Support, and Gastrointestinal Health. Her passion for providing high quality, evidence based nutritional therapy for Oncology, Haematology and Palliative care patients has been demonstrated through her active contribution to service planning and development of innovative and multidisciplinary models of care for cancer services on the Sunshine Coast.

Sarah enjoys working in a team environment and appreciates the value this brings to patient care. She draws on evidence-based nutrition science as the foundation of her consultations, incorporating this into the provision of practical and holistic nutrition advice aimed at managing symptoms and improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with cancer at all stages of their journey.

Jocelyn Hunter Clarke is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and Accredited Nutritionist with a Degree in Science, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has over 20 years’ experience in variety of roles and was a Registered Nurse for 10 years before becoming a dietitian.

She has a special interest in digestive health, gastrointestinal disorders, and food intolerance. She has a particular interest in Functional Gut Disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, and regularly attends the Monash University Department of Gastroenterology research seminars and has completed the Monash FODMAP course.

Tania received her Diploma in Remedial Massage in 2006; later going on to qualify in Oncology Massage and Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy with internationally recognised providers of education when she recognised the need for appropriately trained professionals on the Sunshine Coast.

Working daily with the unique experiences that Oncology Massage and Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy brings has brought a high level of awareness to Tania’s work, as well as building a profound knowledge base from which to draw upon. She has developed advanced rehabilitative techniques based on this experience and, working holistically, uses them for the management of lymphoedema and lipoedema, chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy, scar mobilisation, range of movement difficulties and other issues that can arise from the treatment of cancer. Pre-existing issues are also considered when deciding upon an appropriate course of massage therapy.