DON’T
I wouldn’t recommend any beauty treatments accelerating the lymph flow, because the lymphatic system is quite often the “road” which cancer cells choose to travel. This includes all kinds of lymphatic drainage, massage (alas, even a very relaxing one, because practically any type of massage implies some impact on lymph vessels), microcurrent and ultrasound treatments, vacuum suction treatments (LPG and such), laser treatments (unless they’re part of cancer therapy), radiofrequency and high intensity treatments. Basically, you could say that all machine treatments should be avoided at this time.
Same is true for injections. Most injection techniques imply stimulation of deeper skin layers and activating the synthesis of new agents by the cells, which is not particularly desirable during cancer treatment.
After achieving remission and ending therapy, skin care strategy should stay the same for a few months at least (up to a year). Restoring, moisturising and calming the skin are most important at this point. The first few months after finishing the treatment are the time to recuperate, and the skin, clichéd as it may sound, is a reflection of general health. Many patients, elated by their remission, seek to do something radical now — they want cosmetic surgery or some miraculous rejuvenating laser treatments or injections. Understandable as it is, it would still be better to wait. As the body heals itself, the skin will gradually improve too. Better tend to the skin’s need — use moisturising masks, get some facials (without active massage and machines). If remission is stable and the patient is recovering well, some more intense beauty treatments will be possible. Still caution is key. It is better to avoid treatments with systemic effect, such as high-intensity treatments of face, neck and body, as well as active massage and machine therapy with strong stimulating effect. Active methods of skin renewal, however, such as dermabrasion, local correction of wrinkles and pigmentation, should be perfectly fine. For example, local expression lines correction with botulinum toxin or fillers, pigmentation removal, local facial contouring would be ok, while stimulating anti-age laser treatments, RF, cryolifting, injections of stimulating peptide complexes, growth factors, cell cultures (particularly, fibroblasts), PRP therapy, stimulating mesotherapy cocktails, biorevitalisation are still not recommended. It would be wise to choose clinics and salons with good reputation, where experienced professionals (preferably with medical background) would not try to sell unnecessary or even dangerous treatments.
It is also advisable to avoid general trauma, pain and injury. If you were treated for cancer, your body has been through a lot already, thank it by taking good care of it.
In France there is a whole movement of beauty professionals who visit clinics where cancer patients undergo therapy and perform simple enjoyable beauty treatments, such as hand and feet massage, manicure and pedicure, facials. It does seem that women who get this sort of attention tend to generally feel better and respond to their therapy more.
Point is, everything that improves the quality of life during treatment and after it, all the nice things that bring one joy and distract from the illness for a while, are beneficial and help people get better. The key thing to concentrate on, is remember that many illnesses are treatable and even if you don’t look your best today, tomorrow is a new day and you’ll feel beautiful again.