Notes from a Wingman

Wingman is a term for an aircraft that flies alongside and slightly behind a lead aircraft providing additional support during a flight mission. As a massage therapist working in an outpatient oncology center, the author was a wingman to cancer patients and caregivers. Her experience highlighted the need for patients to take the seat as the pilot on their journey.

This guide seeks to bridge the gap between the patient as a person and their medical diagnosis and support. Notes from a Wingman: Maintaining Wellbeing During Cancer Treatment takes the focus from the diagnosis and returns the quality of life to the patient by providing suggestions that can ease the path of healing.

Notes from a Wingman is a useful pre-flight preparation for the treatment journey and may provide support when treatment is in progress. Five simple missions assist the patient when one becomes lost in the diagnosis. This guide suggests items that will be useful during treatment and provides a daily log sheet that can be used as a template for a journal.

About the Author

Leslie Thompson is nationally board certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork and holds Indiana State Massage Therapy credentials. She is a member of the American Massage Therapy Association and the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapists. Thompson holds an Aromatherapy Body Certificate (1999) and a diploma in Clinical Aromatherapy (2001) from Shirley Price International College of Aromatherapy. She advanced her studies in aromatherapy in the United Kingdom, the United States, and France.

Thompson is not a medical professional beyond massage therapy. It is not her intention to give medical or psychological diagnosis or advice. All the simple tools included in Notes from a Wingman: Maintaining Wellbeing During Cancer Treatment are ones that support stress relief, wellbeing, and quality of life. Please consult a physician or mental health professional when dealing with medical and mental health issues.

Thompson has taught classes locally in herbs and aromatherapy. She is a writer, artist, stone carver, gardener, and traveler.