If you or someone you love has or has had cancer, there is a resource in the Chippewa Valley offering some relief and relaxation. Laura Ellingboe is the owner of Paradise Massage, located inside of Grazie Salon Golf Road, Eau Claire , which offers oncology massages specifically for cancer patients. Ellingboe has been a practicing massage therapist for the past 12 years, moving into the Grazie Salon space about three years ago.
Thanks to her additional training and insight, she is a preferred provider through the Society for Oncology Massage, allowing her further knowledge of the needs of cancer patients β especially those who are at high risk for lymphedema. Lymphedema shows up as swelling, usually in an arm or leg, and is caused by a lymphatic system blockage.
I still need to treat it as if you have cancer in that area. In , Ellingboe lost her mom to lung cancer, then lost her sister to colon cancer in Both of them were only 51 years old. With the risks of cancer in her family, Ellingboe got genetic testing done herself and found that she also has the cancer gene. Ultimately, she made the decision to undergo a total hysterectomy and a double mastectomy. All that her family has been through alongside her own personal journey, pushed her to start a practice that would benefit those with cancer.
Paradise Massage also aims to fulfill its name as well through its environment, the massage room decorated in a getaway style to further the experience. The theme and true mission of Paradise Massage will continue and evolve, too.
Expansion plans are on the horizon for Ellingboe and Paradise Massage, as she is hoping to open a day spa specifically for cancer patients offering specialized care that is often hard for patients to find. With massages, facials, a yoga room, wig and bra fittings, nutritionists, and other spa services, she hopes to create a safe and calm space for cancer patients and their caregivers to enjoy gentle and relaxing care.
