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Welcome to Safe Hands for Cancer

An industry wide campaign supported by Spabreaks.com to make the benefits of spa treatments genuinely available to everybody

What is the Safe Hands for Cancer Collection?

Cancer has always been a big part of our journey at Spabreaks.com, both personally and professionally.

Like many people, we have had friends, colleagues and loved ones who have lived through cancer, as well as those who have been lost to its grip. Professionally, we have been working on improving the spa experience for anyone affected by cancer since 2012, when one of our customers was turned away from a spa because she was undergoing chemotherapy.

Since then, we have been working on breaking down barriers, and campaigning for more knowledge, better training and a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of spa experiences for cancer patients. Our goal is to make sure that anyone at any stage of their cancer journey can enjoy a spa experience safely, easily, and whilst enjoying spa therapies that add the most benefit to their wellbeing at that time.

Safe Hands for Cancer is the culmination of all those efforts to date. It identifies spa destinations where therapists have had the right level of training to adapt treatments for anyone with or recovering from cancer, for their safety as well as making sure they receive maximum benefit from their treatment. It ensures that whichever experience you choose, you will always be in safe hands.

Browse the Safe Hands Collection

Our journey to the Safe Hands for Cancer Collection

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A word from Abi

Abi founded Spabreaks.com with the sole intention of making the benefits of spas accessible to everybody. This is just one step forward in the long journey that Abi has been determined to lead the spa industry through.

Read Abi's story
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Spabreaks.com and The SATCC

Spabreaks.com is proud to be working with SATCC, the only dedicated body of industry experts providing specialist training for spa therapists to ensure they can treat guests at all stages of their cancer journey.

Learn more
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Remembering Lang

The journey to Safe Hands is not only an ongoing one, it’s also been a very personal one. Our own, dear colleague, Lang Rynjah, who had been with Spabreaks.com since it first began, was one of the people we lost to cancer in 2019.

Read Lang's story
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A world of knowledge

The SATCC is the vision of Sue Harmsworth MBE, the founder of ESPA. Utilising a wealth of knowledge and expertise secured from more than 50 years in the spa and wellness industry, Sue has pioneered the concept of touch for cancer care.

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The levels of certification

There are three levels of certification, qualifying therapists to treat clients at different stages of their cancer journey:

The SATCC is the only dedicated body of industry experts providing dedicated training for spa therapists to ensure they can treat guests at all stages of their cancer journey.

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Level 1

Allows therapists to treat someone who has had cancer within the last three years.

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Level 2

Allows therapists to treat someone who is currently in remission.

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Level 3

Allows therapists to treat someone with active cancer who may, for example, have a PICC line.

How to find a Safe Hands approved spa

On the pages of all spa destinations that have therapists trained to SATCC standards, you will find a dedicated symbol. You can also find a location with the right level of cancer care for you or a loved one by using the Safe Hands for Cancer filter when searching. If you have any questions about the level of cancer care provided or anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Browse the Safe Hands Collection