The lived experience: Accessing spa treatments with a cancer diagnosis

Dr. Vivienne MacLaren contacted the SATCC after a spa she had been visiting for more than 20 years refused her any treatment following a cancer diagnosis. As a former oncology consultant, her professional and personal experience gives her a unique insight into the frustrations of being turned away when you’re at your most vulnerable.

My medical background

I began working as a clinical oncology consultant in 2007, retiring in 2025, and predominantly treated patients with lung cancer. Before I was diagnosed myself, I had been planning to retire early and start a small passion project, but then I found out that I had ovarian cancer, which seemed to come totally out of the blue.

Being turned away from a spa

I have always liked spa treatments and touch therapies, and make a habit of going quite regularly. A group of my university friends and I have a tradition of booking a Black Friday offer for a particular spa near us all. I was in the process of booking a spa voucher for my sister and I, when I noticed the website had a rather abrupt message stating that they didn’t have any treatments to offer cancer patients, even though I knew they had previously been approved by the SATCC.

In the initial instance, I felt quite taken aback. It’s demoralising – not only the implications of the message, but the starkness with which it was articulated as well. From a more practical standpoint, it struck me that as one in two people are likely to have or have had cancer going forward, such a sweeping statement is strange – it’s very off-putting and it makes you feel like a pariah. In truth, I was surprised by how much it got to me – it felt as though the 20 years of customer loyalty didn’t matter.

When I eventually felt a bit more able to deal with it I did contact them, and they were very apologetic. It turned out, the spa had been taken over by an American company and was now unable to offer touch treatments for cancer patients.

A personal perspective

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the injustice of the situation has played on my mind, but with my own medical background it also feels like an unsubstantiated stance. People with cancer are the people who need those treatments the most. I appreciate where the challenges come from – there isn’t that much data relating to touch therapies and cancer, and no therapist can be expected to know what doctors know.

However, based on my own knowledge, I think there should be a conversation between the therapists and clients around being gentle, and therapists should know enough to avoid doing harm, which is ultimately what makes the right therapist training in this area so invaluable.

An obvious subgroup to this conversation is people with lymphoedema, which is very unpleasant. Although patients with lymphoedema generally will know they have it, and that this area shouldn’t be touched, many others don’t, or don’t understand the implications of massage and heat in that circumstance. Again, it highlights the need for more conversation, and for therapists to have the right level of training.

A blanket approach is particularly frustrating, as it feels as though you’re being lumped into a single box marked ‘cancer’, but my having cancer is so different to the next person who has cancer. Personalisation and the care that goes with greater understanding has an enormous impact – not just on the treatment, but on the person as well.

The power of touch

I also think it’s really important to acknowledge how important these treatments can be. After my operation, a therapist from a local charity came to the hospital and I had a foot massage. It was so nice because everyone else coming into the room came with a needle or something unpleasant. This was something nice and positive – they went round the wards giving massages to all the people who wanted one and I found it invaluable.

I have since been to various spas and therapists. I went to the local cancer centre and had a bespoke treatment there. That was great because you get to see the same therapist every couple of weeks, and they get to understand you and your body. Also, it’s nice to step away from spaces associated with the medical context.

When I finished a round of chemo I booked The Glass House in Essex, which was lovely. Given my previous experience I had a lot of communication with them before I went to avoid any surprises, and it was absolutely fabulous. I was allowed a package of facials and massages, and it’s also in a gorgeous location with great food, lots to do, and really fun classes, but Essex is not handy from Glasgow! So, I am always on the lookout for somewhere to go a bit more regularly – I have a few places lined up around Scotland, so we shall see.

I will continue to enjoy my love of spas, but the experience has certainly made me more cautious about where I go and the conversations I need to have beforehand.