S4OM Colorado

04/05/2026

Skin Cancer Awareness Month: High Altitudes, High Vigilance 🏔️☀️

Living at 5,280 feet means we get more than our fair share of UV rays. As an Oncology Massage Therapists, we treat the skin as a diagnostic map, and we can be trained to notice subtle clues. Observation is our first line of defense!

For the Community: 🧴
Your vigilance is powerful, and clinical touch can be a helpful tool. Between mountain hikes and river trips, keep an eye on your own "landscape."
📍 Check the ABCDE Mole Chart here: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes

For My Clinical Peers: 🎓
As the S4OM Colorado massage therapists, 'let’s keep our clinical skills as sharp.
📍 S4OM Therapist Resources: https://www.s4om.org/therapist-resources

Whether you’re in active treatment or just enjoying the Mile High sunshine, let’s stay observant. When the mind softens its grip, the body follows. 🩵✨

🏔️

16/03/2026

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and we are seeing a rising trend in diagnoses among younger adults. Early detection is key, but so is supportive care during and after treatment. 💙

Oncology massage isn't just about relaxation; it’s about managing side effects like fatigue and anxiety that often accompany the treatment process. This month, let's spread awareness and support those currently in the fight.

Learn more about the movement and how you can get involved:
🔗 https://www.ccalliance.org/about/awareness-month

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Join the Alliance in demanding progress that meets the scale and burden of this disease.

02/11/2025

🌿 Healing Through Touch: Head & Neck Cancer Care 🌿

Did you know ~90% of head & neck cancer patients develop lymphedema after radiation, and ~75% develop fibrosis within a year?

In the latest S4OM Collaborative Connections episode, Holly McMillan shares how gentle, precise manual therapy can:
✅ Reduce swelling & fibrosis
✅ Improve speech, swallowing & oral function
✅ Empower patients with home programs
✅ Gently remodel mature scars with low-load, long-duration techniques

Her research shows trained therapists can palpate tissue changes post-radiation with 100% accuracy, highlighting the incredible power of touch.

“Touch is not just therapeutic — it’s affirming.” 💜

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.s4om.org/education/ongoing-educational-opportunities/collaborative-connections-podcast/episode-20-head-and-neck-oncology-care-lymphedema-fibrosis-and-research-breakthroughs-with-holly-mcmillan/

Oncology trained therapists align with current best practices, and educational standards in the field of Oncology Massage.

31/05/2025

Melanoma Check!

Friendly reminder: Take a moment to brush up on the signs of potential melanoma—especially since clients often have areas, like their back, they can’t easily monitor themselves.

This is your nudge to stay observant. It could save a life. 💛

12/02/2025

05/01/2025

16/10/2024

Hey everyone, a great opportunity to connect with our European counterparts. And...it's Free!

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and Total Health partnered to expand access in the US to the latest developments in the management of cancer from our European colleagues. This free conference covers highlights from the ESMO Congress 2024, equipping healthcare providers with the latest strategies to improve clinical practice and treatment outcomes in cancer care. The accredited meeting will be hosted as an in-person conference.

Total Health's 2024 ESMO Review will be a condensed review of the global meeting and will give healthcare providers the opportunity to learn about the latest advances in oncology education and translate science into better patient care.

13/09/2024

This is a must take class for any massage professional.

OCTOBER 2024 - 9 COURSES AVAILABLE

Have you always wanted to learn Oncology Massage? Why wait? Join one of our October classes! This foundational level class will provide you with the skills you need to provide safe, effective massage for those living with a diagnosis of cancer!

Find a class that works best for you. In Person, Virtual, and Hybrid class options are available. Learn with our fabulous S4OM Recognized Education Providers in Spain, Australia, Canada, and the US.

*October 1-3 (In person)
UCSF Health Stad Center: Oncology Massage Therapy Level I with Carolyn Tague in San Francisco, California, USA

*October 10 - 12 (In person)
Palliative Care Massage Training: 3 Day Oncology Massage Course with Gillian Jackson in Ivanhoe, Victoria, Australia

*October 11 - 13 (In person)
Oncology Massage of the Carolinas: Oncology Massage Essentials with Lucy Allen in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

*October 11 - 13 (In person)
Corewell Health: Introduction to Oncology Massage with Karen Armstrong in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA

*October 12 - December 2 (Online & Virtual)
Institute of Oncology Massage: Foundations in Oncology Massage with Amy Tyler in New South Wales, Australia

*October 23 - 26 (Virtual & In person)
Massage CE Advantage: Essentials of Oncology Massage: A 4 Day Foundational Course with Lin Roussel in Lititz, Pennsylvania, USA

*October 23 - November 26 (In person)
Seminars for Health: Fundamentals of Oncology Massage Level 1 & Oncology Soft Tissue Manipulation Level 2 with Janet Penny in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

*October 25 - 27 (In person)
S.A.M.O. Sociedad Americana de Masaje Oncologico: Masaje Oncologico Nivel 1 – Level 1 Oncology Massage with Marcelo Penaloza in Barcelona, España – Course taught in SPANISH

*October 29 - November 1 (In person)
Seminars for Health: Fundamentals of Oncology Massage Level 1 & Oncology Soft Tissue Manipulation Level 2 with Janet Penny in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Don't see a class that fits your schedule or just want to find out more information! Check out our S4OM education calendar at:
https://www.s4om.org/s4om-calendar/

07/06/2024

What a terrific class...several international options this summer, one Spanish speaking.

S4OM Education

It's time to register for our July and August 2024 S4OM Oncology Massage Foundational Courses

Have you always wanted to learn Oncology Massage? Why wait? Join one of our summer classes! This class will provide you with the foundational skills you need to provide safe, effective massage for those living with a diagnosis of cancer!

*July 1 - August 22 (Virtual & Online)
Full Circle Health and Wellness: Oncology Massage Therapy Level 1 – Home Study + Foundations – Maryland, USA

*July 6 - August 28 (Virtual & Online)
Institute of Oncology Massage: Foundations in Oncology Massage - New South Wales, Australia

*July 25 - July 27 (In person)
S.A.M.O. Sociedad Americana de Masaje Oncologico: Masaje Oncologico Nivel 1 (Level 1 Oncology Massage) – Montevideo, Uruguay – Course taught in SPANISH

*August 6 - August 9 (In person)
Seminars for Health: Fundamentals of Oncology Massage Level 1 & Oncology Soft Tissue Manipulation Level 2 – Ontario, Canada

*August 17 - August 19 (In person)
Corewell Health: Introduction to Oncology Massage – Michigan, USA

For more information about these or future foundational classes visit the S4OM education calendar at:
https://www.s4om.org/s4om-calendar/