January 26, 2009

NEW YORK - The R.E.S.T. Initiative, a non-profit foundation that works to alleviate fear, anxiety and stress in cancer patients by bringing free therapeutic massage therapies directly into chemotherapy treatment rooms, launched its program with patients at the NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center.

The announcement was made by Dr. James Speyer, Medical Director of the NYU Cancer Institute, who says research has shown that massage therapy seems to offer cancer patients many benefits.

"Many patients who find chemotherapy stressful have discovered that massage reduces tension, pain, anxiety, and even side effects such as nausea," says Dr. Speyer. "We are thrilled that The R.E.S.T. Initiative has chosen to launch this wonderful program at the NYU Cancer Institute."

R.E.S.T.'s certified team of massage therapists will work at the NYU Cancer Institute's outpatient treatment areas, where 120 patients a day receive chemotherapy on two floors of infusion rooms.  To start, four licensed massage therapists specially trained in oncology massage will offer patients gentle, free massage and reflexology treatments for the feet, hands, scalp and shoulders. Therapists will be on-site from Monday through Friday with treatments being given to as many patients as possible throughout each day.

"R.E.S.T. stands for relief, energy, synergy and touch, four simple words that can help transform a cancer patient's life," says founder Pamela Schein Murphy, herself a cancer survivor.  She approached the NYU Cancer Institute because of her relationship with Dr. Speyer, who treated her father more than 20 years ago. "The R.E.S.T Initiative is the only program of its kind designed to complement the chemotherapy regimen by integrating aspects of wellness and healing. We're very excited to start helping as many NYU Cancer Institute patients as possible."

Ms. Murphy founded The R.E.S.T. Initiative in 2008 after her own experience with chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer in 2006. After going through a process she says was largely defined by endless hours of waiting, apprehension and discomfort, she wanted to find a way to counterbalance some of the anxieties of the treatment process while simultaneously providing health benefits.  After successfully completing her own course of chemo, she decided the best way to give back would be to offer cancer patients a respite from treatment by helping them find comfort in the midst of what can often feel overwhelming.

The mission of The R.E.S.T Initiative is to add a positive, nurturing component to a process normally defined by fear, grief and pain by helping patients change their focus from illness to healing through wellness and self-care.

While complementary therapies cannot substitute for mainstream medical care, they have been shown to promote feelings of physical and psychological well-being. Numerous studies have found massage therapy and healing touch have proven effective in reducing pain, anxiety, depression and fatigue, while boosting energy and improving the quality of life in patients receiving chemotherapy. According to the American Cancer Society, massage is an almost universally beneficial therapy from both a physical and emotional perspective.

The R.E.S.T. Initiative is primarily funded by private donations, but is working to secure corporate sponsorships, as well. For example, Bliss Spas across the nation have started offering  "The R.E.S.T. Intentions Massage" as part of its regular treatment menu. The treatment includes a 60-minute massage plus 15 minutes of either reflexology or scalp massage, with 20 percent of the proceeds going toward The R.E.S.T. Initiative. For more information, visit www.blissworld.com  or call 1-877-TO-BLISS.

For more information about The R.E.S.T. Initiative, or to make a donation, please visit www.restinitiative.org or call 646.437.3467.

Contact:
Office of Communications and Public Affairs
NYU Langone Medical Center
(212) 404-3555

About NYU Langone Medical Center
Located in the heart of New York City, NYU Langone Medical Center is a premier center for health care, biomedical research, and medical education.  For over 167 years, NYU physicians and researchers have contributed to the practice and science of medicine.  Today the Medical Center consists of NYU School of Medicine; Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the first and largest facility of its kind; NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, a leader in musculoskeletal care; and such nationally recognized programs as the NYU Cancer Institute, the NYU Child Study Center, and the NYU Cardiac and Vascular Institute. 

About NYU Cancer Institute
The mission of the NYU Cancer Institute is to discover the origins of human cancer and to use that knowledge to eradicate the personal and societal burden of cancer in our community, the nation and the world. NYU Cancer Institute is an NCI-designated Cancer Center.