Beneath the Surface: Fascia's Role in Oncology, Palliative Care and Lymphoedema
A 2-day workshop for professionals in oncology, palliative care and lymphoedema
Fascia is the body's living web — and in cancer care, understanding it changes everything from how we assess tissue change to how we touch a fragile limb.
This two-day workshop takes participants from foundational fascial anatomy and physiology through to the specific tissue changes seen across the cancer journey — radiation fibrosis, surgical scarring, lymphostatic change, and the often-overlooked relationship between fascia and the lymphatic system itself. Day One builds the science: what fascia is, how it behaves, and why the superficial fascial layers are the literal home of the lymphatic collectors that keep fluid moving.
Day Two turns that science into practice — safe assessment for fragile and post-oncology tissue, clear contraindications, and gentle, evidence-informed manual techniques that complement (not compete with) existing MLD and compression approaches, including adaptations for palliative and end-of-life care.
Participants will leave with a genuinely new lens on tissue change in this population — one that bridges fascia science with the clinical realities of oncology, lymphoedema and palliative practice.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
• Define fascia and describe its classification, composition, and physiological properties
• Explain the mechanisms of fascial densification and fibrosis, and distinguish between them
• Describe the anatomical relationship between the superficial fascia and the lymphatic collector system
• Differentiate between radiation-induced fibrosis, surgical scar fibrosis, and lymphostatic fibrosis by mechanism and clinical presentation
• Describe the mechanistic rationale linking fascial restriction to impaired lymphatic flow, with awareness of the current limits of the evidence base
• Explain the biological basis for common treatment-related tissue changes seen across the cancer journey (surgery, radiotherapy, chronic lymphoedema)
• Apply appropriate palpation techniques for fragile, irradiated, or post-surgical tissue
• Identify red flags and contraindications specific to oncology, palliative, and lymphoedema populations
• Reason safely about when fascial assessment or treatment is, and is not, appropriate
• Demonstrate gentle myofascial techniques adapted for fragile tissue and reduced treatment tolerance
• Integrate fascial techniques safely alongside existing MLD and compression-based management
• Adapt manual therapy approaches for palliative and end-of-life contexts, prioritising comfort and connection
Fascia is the body's living web — and in cancer care, understanding it changes everything from how we assess tissue change to how we touch a fragile limb.
This two-day workshop takes participants from foundational fascial anatomy and physiology through to the specific tissue changes seen across the cancer journey — radiation fibrosis, surgical scarring, lymphostatic change, and the often-overlooked relationship between fascia and the lymphatic system itself. Day One builds the science: what fascia is, how it behaves, and why the superficial fascial layers are the literal home of the lymphatic collectors that keep fluid moving.
Day Two turns that science into practice — safe assessment for fragile and post-oncology tissue, clear contraindications, and gentle, evidence-informed manual techniques that complement (not compete with) existing MLD and compression approaches, including adaptations for palliative and end-of-life care.
Participants will leave with a genuinely new lens on tissue change in this population — one that bridges fascia science with the clinical realities of oncology, lymphoedema and palliative practice.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
• Define fascia and describe its classification, composition, and physiological properties
• Explain the mechanisms of fascial densification and fibrosis, and distinguish between them
• Describe the anatomical relationship between the superficial fascia and the lymphatic collector system
• Differentiate between radiation-induced fibrosis, surgical scar fibrosis, and lymphostatic fibrosis by mechanism and clinical presentation
• Describe the mechanistic rationale linking fascial restriction to impaired lymphatic flow, with awareness of the current limits of the evidence base
• Explain the biological basis for common treatment-related tissue changes seen across the cancer journey (surgery, radiotherapy, chronic lymphoedema)
• Apply appropriate palpation techniques for fragile, irradiated, or post-surgical tissue
• Identify red flags and contraindications specific to oncology, palliative, and lymphoedema populations
• Reason safely about when fascial assessment or treatment is, and is not, appropriate
• Demonstrate gentle myofascial techniques adapted for fragile tissue and reduced treatment tolerance
• Integrate fascial techniques safely alongside existing MLD and compression-based management
• Adapt manual therapy approaches for palliative and end-of-life contexts, prioritising comfort and connection
Presenters
Alison Slater
Alison Slater is a titled member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. With a wealth of post-graduate study, including a Master of Manual Therapy (UWA), and a Master of Public Health (UNSW), Alison has worked and taught extensively throughout Australia and the United Kingdom. She has been in solo private practice in Sydney since returning from the UK in 2003.Her passion for all things fascia has stretched over 20 years, travelling widely to attend numerous Fascia Summer and Winter Schools, dissection workshops, (including tutoring roles), and Fascia Research Congresses. Alison is a member of the Fascia Research Society, and very proud to have contributed on the Fascial Net Plastination Project, the end result of which was the world's first plastinated Bodyworlds ® model of the human fascial system. She has published in peer-reviewed journals, as well as authoring book chapters. Alison's interest has more recently extended to the arena of canine and equine therapy.
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