Rebecca Della-Franca Oncology & Palliative Massage

14/05/2023

Mother's Day breast cancer walk. In memory of our beautiful Bettina, and all the mums and women we've lost

17/03/2023

An interesting read on which massage styles most benefit migraines. If you suffer with migraines the video is well worth a watch for home massage tips.

Some studies suggest that massage may help reduce the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches. Learn how to try it here.

02/03/2023

A lovely affirmation on how massage helps those going through cancer

CLEVELAND – A new study from University Hospitals (UH) Connor Whole Health found children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer or sickle cell

16/01/2023

A lovely written article on what's important in the end.

To witness my mother-in-law dying - and the love that surrounds her - is one of the most harrowing, beautiful things in the world.

07/01/2023

Feeling very rested after a lovely break, ready to take on 2023! massage

01/11/2022

I have learnt so much from my time over the last 2 years on the Palliative ward at Greenwich Hospital. Thank you so much to all the Doctors, nurses and physio's on the ward for allowing me to pick your brains constantly! It's with sadness that I leave my position at Greenwich this week. Allowing me to better service my clients in my Roseville clinic, and for home visits for those too unwell to travel. I will also be offering another half day at The Mater Hospital Centre for Well-being. Now available at The Mater on Tuesday's 1-5 pm and Wednesday's 8:30-1 pm. massage

31/10/2022

A bit of hope for cancer patients with long term peripheral neuropathy. Such a debilitating side effect of certain chemos, which affects the hands or feet with pins and needles, numbness or weakness.

A recent study demonstrated that after a single massage therapy session, at least 50% of patients reported improvement in all chemo induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms.

Results from a pilot study evaluating two treatment schedules of a standardized Swedish massage technique to treat chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy showed ...

26/01/2022

Moments of beauty, even in the darkest hour.
A lovely insight into the world of a palliative care physio.

“DID anyone die at work today Mum?” our 7-year-old asked. “Yes. One person today,” I

29/10/2021

Love this 💚

“When pregnant, the cells of the baby migrate into the mothers bloodstream and then circle back into the baby, it’s called “fetal-maternal microchimerism”.⁠

For 41 weeks, the cells circulate and merge backwards and forwards, and after the baby is born, many of these cells stay in the mother’s body, leaving a permanent imprint in the mothers tissues, bones, brain, and skin, and often stay there for decades. Every single child a mother has afterwards will leave a similar imprint on her body, too.

Even if a pregnancy doesn't go to full term or if you have an abortion, these cells still migrate into your bloodstream.

Research has shown that if a mother's heart is injured, fetal cells will rush to the site of the injury and change into different types of cells that specialize in mending the heart.

The baby helps repair the mother, while the mother builds the baby.

How cool is that?

This is often why certain illnesses vanish while pregnant.

It’s incredible how mothers bodies protect the baby at all costs, and the baby protects & rebuilds the mother back - so that the baby can develop safely and survive.

Think about crazy cravings for a moment. What was the mother deficient in that the baby made them crave?

Studies have also shown cells from a fetus in a mothers brain 18 years after she gave birth. How amazing is that?”

If you’re a mom you know how you can intuitively feel your child even when they are not there….Well, now there is scientific proof that moms carry them for years and years even after they have given birth to them.

I find this to be so very beautiful.

17/08/2021

So true, beautiful words. All it takes is coming back to our breath, just an inhale and an exhale 💚

GOD, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL! TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT ❤️
As someone who writes often, I naturally appreciate epic writing when I see it. This morning, I came across this written piece of art and it moved me deeply, so I had to share it with all of you! Not only are these words true theatre, they also act as sound advice ❤️

my brain and
heart divorced

a decade ago

over who was
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become

eventually,
they couldn't be
in the same room
with each other

now my head and heart
share custody of me

I stay with my brain
during the week

and my heart
gets me on weekends

they never speak to one another

- instead, they give me
the same note to pass
to each other every week

and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:

"This is all your fault"

on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past

and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future

they blame each
other for the
state of my life

there's been a lot
of yelling - and crying

so,

lately, I've been
spending a lot of
time with my gut

who serves as my
unofficial therapist

most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage

and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut's plush leather chair
that's always open for me

~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up

last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head

I nodded

I said I didn't know
if I could live with
either of them anymore

"my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,"
I lamented

my gut squeezed my hand

"I just can't live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,"
I sighed

my gut smiled and said:

"in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,"

I was confused
- the look on my face gave it away

"if you are exhausted about
your heart's obsession with
the fixed past and your mind's focus
on the uncertain future

your lungs are the perfect place for you

there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either

there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment

there is only breath

and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out."

this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves

and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs

I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs

before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said

"what took you so long?"

~ John Roedel (johnroedel.com)

15/06/2021

I made this today as I was unable to be there in person. A lovely lady with a loved one in hospital at end of life can now follow and massage him herself. Please feel free to use this yourself.
Touch your loved ones feet or hands in palliative care and especially at end of life. This is such beautiful moment to soothe and connect. 💚

24/03/2021

Palliative Massage for the terminally ill holds a special place for me.
Five years ago I saw the relief from pain that gentle massage and reflexology brought my best friend in the months before her death to cancer. I knew then that palliative massage was my calling and where I could make the most difference.

It has been a few years in the making but I am thrilled to have accepted a part time position as massage therapist on Greenwich Hospital's Palliative ward.

I'll still be offering Oncology massage at The Mater Hospital Wellness Centre on Tuesdays, The Kinghorn Cancer Wellness Centre on Wednesday's and Roseville at other times.

I'm one busy girl but exactly where I'm meant to be 🙏🏻😊