With clear understanding of the disease certain types of massage or massage techniques are contraindicated for those with cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer. However, the beneficial techniques can provide support both emotionally and mechanically for those going through treatment providing precautions are taken for ports and locally contraindicated items. But the benefits will still out weigh the risks the immune system boost that it can provide will aid the patient in recovery on a physical and psychological level.

People who receive a diagnosis of cancer are suddenly faced with life altering choices to make and those who have put off diagnosis can veen be faced with life threatening choices. They are all of the sudden faced with a fight against the disease and a struggle simply to survive and function on a day to day basis. This can have deep impact on many levels mental, emotional, and physical. The adverse affects on the physical level can be both from the treatment or the disease itself.  The benefits of massage for people with cancer can be for the relief of pain from treatment or disease, or the treatment for depression, anxiety, which can eliminate nausea, and insomnia in most cases. Massage can relieve muscle spasm, muscle tension, and fatigue which can benefit the patient in the physical and emotional arena. Massage also improves lymph movement, better digestion, and elimination of edema helping the body to return to homeostasis quicker.

Massage can also improve the production of red blood cells and white blood cells boosting the immune system and oxygenation of the entire body. In 1992, a study was conducted with HIV positive patients that resulted in the conclusion that massage will boost the immune system. The evidence that additional T4 killer cells where found in the bloodstream lead them to believe that massage in any form would allow the production of more white blood cells and indicated that massage might strengthen the immune system.

Massage strokes affect the blood and lymph flow as listed:

1. Light strokes produce an almost instant dilation of the capillaries and deep strokes dilate a more long lasting and flushing of the localized area being massaged.
2. Light percussion causes a contraction of the blood vessels, which after a length of time relaxation kicks in.
3. Friction increases the flow of blood through superficial veins, and produces a flow of interstitial fluids back through the lymph system.
4. Petrissage or kneading stimulates blood flow through muscle and even deep arteries and veins.
5. Light massage of MLD (Manual Lymph drainage) applied properly enhances lymph flow and reduces lymphedema.
6. Compression causes hyperemia or an increase in the amount of blood stored in the muscle tissue.

Craniosacral treatments are noninvasive, usually indirect in approach craniosacral is intended to resolve restrictive barriers and restore symmetrical craniosacral motion. Craniosacral therapy is used in a vast array of muscle dysfunctions and preventative health practices. Craniosacral therapy can improve the function of the central nervous system and bolster the body’s immune system to fight off disease.

If you wish to find out more about this modality you can visit http://www.craniosacraltherapy.org/.

One used to have one’s tonsils removed because of the gland inflammation and choking hazards. Doctors have since found out that the tonsils play an important role in the immune system. They help protect against bacteria that may invade tissues in the areas around openings such as nasals and oral cavities. So the thymus, overall, is not the largest of the lymphatic system but could be called one of the most important of glands in the lymphatic system. If you wanted to know the largest of the lymphatic organs it would be the spleen, but I will cover that organ in my next article.

The oversecretion of the thyroid hormone characterized by the loss of weight, irritability, increased appetite, and eye protrusion is called hyperthyroidism. Just the most other glandular conditions too much also has a too little pathology. hyposecretion of the thyroid produces hypothyroidism. An enlargement of the thyroid gland produces what is commonly known as a goiter a condition where the neck swells excessively. A goiter is is caused by the low intake of iodine which results in this condition.

Cretinism is when the thyroid gland is characterized by low secretions of thyroid hormone (TH). Cretinism is a low metabolic rate, retarded growth and slow sexual development and can commonly cause mental retardation.  Crushing Syndrome is the hypersection of glucocorticoids due to a tumor of the adrenal cortex and resulting in a very distinguishing facial features.  Addison’s disease is the hyposecretion of the hormones of the adrenal cortex and may result in this pathology.

When tumors form on endocrine glands they usually cause an affect in hormone secretion of that gland and cause many different pathologies.

Growth hormones also affect the bone growth of the human body.

Antidiuretic hormones affect the kidneys.

Prolactin hormone affects the mammary glands in the production of milk.

The pituitary gland affects the production of hormones of other glands.

The hypothalamus is also a part of the nervous system and influences the endocrine system.

All endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the blood stream.

Thymosin is the hormone that plays a role in the human immune system.

Epenephrine is the first endocrine response to stress and is its quickest response to danger.

Testosterone is responsible for voice changes in puberty.

The female sex glands are called ovaries, the female sex gland hormones are called estrogen and progesterone.  The male sex glands are called testes and produce testosterone. The male testes can also known as testicles or they are gonads of the male body.

During pregnancy the temporary organ of the endocrine system that produces tropic hormones is called the placenta. This is mearly a backup of the primary hormone producing glands because of the stresses that put the female under during child bearing.

The gland that is located in the mediastinum is called the thymus, this gland is activity involved in the immune system response to invaders of the body to maintain homeostasis.