Many cancer centers now offer oncology massage as a complementary treatment for cancer. In this sense, massage is not used as a treatment for cancer, per se—such as chemotherapy or surgery would be—but as a method of helping with the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of treatment.
The research is young, but oncology massage may help with pain, cancer-related fatigue, anxiety, and quality of life, and meets evidence-based guidelines for aiding in the relief of depression and mood disorders in women with breast cancer. Massage may also play a role in the prevention of neuropathic pain related to chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel.
There are potential risks, such as infection, bruising, and skin breakdown, as well as reasons it should not be performed, such as if blood clots are present, or if your platelet count is very low. Let’s take a look at how massage may benefit people with cancer, and how to find an oncology massage therapist.
This article discusses oncology massage and how it helps to ease pain, anxiety, and fatigue in people with cancer.
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Integrative Oncology
The term “integrative treatment” refers to the practice of combining traditional cancer treatments to address the tumor with “alternative” treatments to ease symptoms, and is an approach many cancer centers are now adopting.
Massage Therapy Basics
Massage is defined as the rubbing of skin and muscles in the body to give someone a sense of well-being. Many of us are familiar with traditional back rubs, and massage therapy isn’t that much different—in the sense that it simply feels good to many people. Yet there are many different techniques andforms of massage therapy.
Massage Techniques
Craniosacral Therapy: More Than a Head Massage
Uses of Different Techniques
The best type of massage can vary depending on your symptoms and how your cancer and cancer treatments have affected your body.
How to Give Yourself a Lymphatic Drainage Self-Massage
Health Benefits
Oncology massage therapy may have general benefits on well-being as well a specific benefits for common symptoms related to cancer or cancer treatments.
General Health Benefits
Researchers believe massage may be helpful forbothits physical and psychological benefits.
Physically, massage may:
Emotionally, massage may help people relax, provide a distracting experience that takes the mind off of pain and fear, and reduce anxiety and sometimes, depression.
Benefits for People With Cancer
Intuitively, it seems that massage should benefit those living with cancer. Unlike the often intense (and sometimes cold) nature of treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, massage can lead to a sense of calm and serenity. In addition, since much of cancer treatment is aimed at treating a tumor, massage can help people feel pampered as the therapy involves a therapist being devoted to your personal and non-clinical well-being.
Some studies evaluating the potential benefits of oncology massage have focused on specific treatments. For example, a2016 studylooked at the benefits of massage in people going throughchemotherapy, finding that it led to improvements in pain, fatigue, nausea, and anxiety.
Other studies have looked at the benefits of massage for specific symptoms related to cancer.
Chemotherapy-Related Nausea
A few studies have suggested that oncology massage therapy, when combined with other treatments, may reducechemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. A2015 studylooking at combining conventional and alternative therapies for cancer found that the combination of dexamethasone, massage therapy, andginger for chemotherapy-induced nauseaworked better than some other combinations of conventional and alternative treatments.
It’s important to note that when massage therapy is used to help with nausea, it doesnotmean foregoing medications that are used to both prevent and treat nausea, only that massage may be a usefuladjunctto more traditional therapies. This is true when it comes to many cancer-related symptoms, in which a combination of therapies is usually most effective.
Anxiety and Stress
Several studies have found that oncology massage can reduce anxiety and stress for people living with cancer. On a more objective level, massage also appears to lower cortisol levels, with this reduction in stress hormones possibly having other physical benefits as well. Decreased stress and anxiety has been noted in a number of different studies.
Depression/Mood Disorders
Of all of the symptoms that massage may help with, depression and mood disorders have the strongest evidence. Depression and mood disorders are not only common in women with breast cancer, but can be challenging to treat as many antidepressant drugs reduce the effectiveness of some breast cancer medications (such as Tamoxifen). In addition, a few studies have found that depression is associated with lower survival rates in women with breast cancer.
Depression and lung cancercan go hand in hand, and recent research suggests that inflammation may be acauseof depression in this setting.
Cancer Fatigue
Massage has been found to reducecancer fatiguein some people. While not a life-threatening symptom, fatigue is one of the more annoying and frustrating symptoms for people with cancer and often persists for years after treatment has been completed in those with early-stage disease.
A2018 studypublished in the journalCancerfound that Swedish massage resulted in significant improvement in cancer-related fatigue for people with stage 0 to stage III breast cancer.
Pain Control
As with nausea and vomiting, oncology massage should not be used instead of conventional treatments for pain, but may help to reduce pain or reduce the amount of pain medication people may need. It may be especially helpful with pain due to surgery. The mechanism isn’t well understood, but massage has been found to increase the release of endorphins, and increased levels of endorphins, in turn, are associated with a reduction in pain.
A2018 studyfound that massage is helpful in providing immediate help for pain, though it’s not certain how long this last. In contrast to many of the current methods available for treating pain, massage also appears to be relatively safe.
Myofascial massage is thought to be a promising treatment for addressing chronic pain following cancer surgery and may also be helpful in improving mobility.
Prevention of Chemotherapy-Related Neuropathic Pain
Neuropathic pain is common in people treated with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel, and can be very challenging to treat. A2019 studyfound that people who underwent classical massage prior to a paclitaxel infusion reported less pain. This was also seen objectively in nerve conduction studies.
Palliative Care Benefits
Quality of Life
A number of different studies have looked at the benefits of Anma therapy (Japanese massage therapy) for women coping with gynecological cancers. A2018 studyfound that Japanese massage significantly reduce physical symptoms and improved quality of life in this setting.
Cautions and Risks
It’s important to talk with your oncologist before beginning massage therapy, especially if you have had recent surgery, or are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. As with an type of treatment, massage therapy carries potential risks, as well as contraindications (reasons the therapy should not be performed).
Possible Risks
Some potential risks include:
Contraindications
Light massage is safe for most people with cancer, but there are some settings in which massage therapy should be avoided altogether among people with cancer. Some of these include:
Therapy should also avoid sites of active tumor growth, areas around a recent incision, and any areas where an open wound or sore is present. During chemotherapy, deep tissue massage should be avoided even if blood counts are all normal.
Rlsk of Spreading Cancer
While there is a theoretical risk that if a cancerous tumor is massaged it could promote spreading, this hasnotbeen found to occur in any trials to date.
What to Expect With an Oncology Massage
Before you pursue massage therapy, talk to your oncologist about any precautions or concerns she has. It’s important to discuss any of this with your massage therapist, as well as any concerns you have about lotions, oils, or aromatherapy (chemotherapy can affect your sense of smell and taste, and you may be more sensitive than usual). Some therapists use aromatherapy with massage, and many play soothing music.
You will usually be asked to remove your clothing except for your underwear, but this can vary. You should never feel uncomfortable, and a massage can be performed through clothing if you wish.
You will usually be asked to lie on a cushioned table, with a special hole for your face for when you lie on your stomach. Positioning may be limited or need to be altered. For example, if you’ve had recent breast cancer surgery, you may not be able to lie on your abdomen or one side.
When you are receiving a massage, make sure to let the therapist know if anything is painful, or if you need a more gentle touch. Being uncomfortable or experiencing pain is unnecessary for the massage to be effective and could be harmful instead. Most sessions last 30 minutes to 90 minutes, but you can ask the therapist to stop at any time.
When you get up after your massage, be careful standing. Some people become very relaxed and feel lightheaded when standing. Give yourself time to get up and get dressed.
How to Get Started
If you’re not certain how to find an oncology massage therapist, talk to your healthcare team. Many of the large cancer centers have massage therapists on staff, and some also offer classes to help your loved ones learn how to do massage for you when you return home.
Other Alternative Treatments
There are a number of alternative therapies that have been incorporated into cancer treatment as a way to reduce the symptoms of cancer and cancer treatments, and many cancer centers now practice an “integrative approach” in which they combine the best alternative therapies with traditional treatments in order to improve the quality of life for people living with cancer. Guidelines have found that therapies that appear to be particularly effective based on symptoms include:
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsA cancer massage, also known as an oncology massage, uses a light gentle touch with slow and steady movements to help the body relax. Avoid deep tissue massages during cancer treatment, which can contribute to pain and fatigue.Oncology massage is offered at many cancer centers. You may also be able to find an independent massage therapist who is experienced in treating cancer patients to do an oncology massage.There is no evidence to support the belief that massage can cause cancer cells to spread throughout the body. In fact, massage therapy is offered as complementary therapy at many cancer treatment centers. Research shows massage can help to relieve pain, fatigue, nausea, and anxiety in people undergoing cancer treatments.Lymphatic drainage massages are often recommended for lymphedema. However, lymphatic massage is not recommended for people with heart conditions, kidney failure, blood clots, or an infection.
Frequently Asked Questions
A cancer massage, also known as an oncology massage, uses a light gentle touch with slow and steady movements to help the body relax. Avoid deep tissue massages during cancer treatment, which can contribute to pain and fatigue.Oncology massage is offered at many cancer centers. You may also be able to find an independent massage therapist who is experienced in treating cancer patients to do an oncology massage.
A cancer massage, also known as an oncology massage, uses a light gentle touch with slow and steady movements to help the body relax. Avoid deep tissue massages during cancer treatment, which can contribute to pain and fatigue.
Oncology massage is offered at many cancer centers. You may also be able to find an independent massage therapist who is experienced in treating cancer patients to do an oncology massage.
There is no evidence to support the belief that massage can cause cancer cells to spread throughout the body. In fact, massage therapy is offered as complementary therapy at many cancer treatment centers. Research shows massage can help to relieve pain, fatigue, nausea, and anxiety in people undergoing cancer treatments.
Lymphatic drainage massages are often recommended for lymphedema. However, lymphatic massage is not recommended for people with heart conditions, kidney failure, blood clots, or an infection.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robison J, Smith C.Therapeutic massage during chemotherapy and/or biotherapy infusions: patient perceptions of pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and satisfaction.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016. 20(2):E34-40. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.E34-E40Gentile, D., Boselli, D., O’Neill, G. et al.Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018. 24(9-10):968-973. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0192Sheikhi, M., Ebadi, A., Talaeizadeh, A., and H. Rahmani.Alternative Methods to Treat Nausea and Vomiting from Cancer Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy Research and Practice. 2015. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/818759Kinkead B, Schettler PJ, Larson ER, et al.Massage therapy decreases cancer-related fatigue: Results from a randomized early phase trial.Cancer.2018;124(3):546-554. doi:10.1002/cncr.31064Izgu N, Metin ZG, Karadas C, Ozdemir L, Çetin N, Demirci U.Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:36-43. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.002Armstrong M, Flemming K, Kupeli N, Stone P, Wilkinson S, Candy B.Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs.Palliat Med.2019;33(7):757-769. doi:10.1177/0269216319846440Donoyama N, Satoh T, Hamano T, Ohkoshi N, Onuki M.Effects of Anma therapy (Japanese massage) on health-related quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.PLoS ONE.2018;13(5):e0196638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0196638Cleveland Clinic.Lymphatic drainage massage.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Robison J, Smith C.Therapeutic massage during chemotherapy and/or biotherapy infusions: patient perceptions of pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and satisfaction.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016. 20(2):E34-40. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.E34-E40Gentile, D., Boselli, D., O’Neill, G. et al.Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018. 24(9-10):968-973. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0192Sheikhi, M., Ebadi, A., Talaeizadeh, A., and H. Rahmani.Alternative Methods to Treat Nausea and Vomiting from Cancer Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy Research and Practice. 2015. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/818759Kinkead B, Schettler PJ, Larson ER, et al.Massage therapy decreases cancer-related fatigue: Results from a randomized early phase trial.Cancer.2018;124(3):546-554. doi:10.1002/cncr.31064Izgu N, Metin ZG, Karadas C, Ozdemir L, Çetin N, Demirci U.Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:36-43. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.002Armstrong M, Flemming K, Kupeli N, Stone P, Wilkinson S, Candy B.Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs.Palliat Med.2019;33(7):757-769. doi:10.1177/0269216319846440Donoyama N, Satoh T, Hamano T, Ohkoshi N, Onuki M.Effects of Anma therapy (Japanese massage) on health-related quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.PLoS ONE.2018;13(5):e0196638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0196638Cleveland Clinic.Lymphatic drainage massage.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Robison J, Smith C.Therapeutic massage during chemotherapy and/or biotherapy infusions: patient perceptions of pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and satisfaction.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016. 20(2):E34-40. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.E34-E40Gentile, D., Boselli, D., O’Neill, G. et al.Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018. 24(9-10):968-973. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0192Sheikhi, M., Ebadi, A., Talaeizadeh, A., and H. Rahmani.Alternative Methods to Treat Nausea and Vomiting from Cancer Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy Research and Practice. 2015. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/818759Kinkead B, Schettler PJ, Larson ER, et al.Massage therapy decreases cancer-related fatigue: Results from a randomized early phase trial.Cancer.2018;124(3):546-554. doi:10.1002/cncr.31064Izgu N, Metin ZG, Karadas C, Ozdemir L, Çetin N, Demirci U.Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:36-43. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.002Armstrong M, Flemming K, Kupeli N, Stone P, Wilkinson S, Candy B.Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs.Palliat Med.2019;33(7):757-769. doi:10.1177/0269216319846440Donoyama N, Satoh T, Hamano T, Ohkoshi N, Onuki M.Effects of Anma therapy (Japanese massage) on health-related quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.PLoS ONE.2018;13(5):e0196638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0196638Cleveland Clinic.Lymphatic drainage massage.
Robison J, Smith C.Therapeutic massage during chemotherapy and/or biotherapy infusions: patient perceptions of pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety, and satisfaction.Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2016. 20(2):E34-40. doi:10.1188/16.CJON.E34-E40
Gentile, D., Boselli, D., O’Neill, G. et al.Cancer Pain Relief After Healing Touch and Massage.Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2018. 24(9-10):968-973. doi:10.1089/acm.2018.0192
Sheikhi, M., Ebadi, A., Talaeizadeh, A., and H. Rahmani.Alternative Methods to Treat Nausea and Vomiting from Cancer Chemotherapy.Chemotherapy Research and Practice. 2015. 2015. doi:10.1155/2015/818759
Kinkead B, Schettler PJ, Larson ER, et al.Massage therapy decreases cancer-related fatigue: Results from a randomized early phase trial.Cancer.2018;124(3):546-554. doi:10.1002/cncr.31064
Izgu N, Metin ZG, Karadas C, Ozdemir L, Çetin N, Demirci U.Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel: An assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:36-43. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2019.03.002
Armstrong M, Flemming K, Kupeli N, Stone P, Wilkinson S, Candy B.Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs.Palliat Med.2019;33(7):757-769. doi:10.1177/0269216319846440
Donoyama N, Satoh T, Hamano T, Ohkoshi N, Onuki M.Effects of Anma therapy (Japanese massage) on health-related quality of life in gynecologic cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial.PLoS ONE.2018;13(5):e0196638. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0196638
Cleveland Clinic.Lymphatic drainage massage.
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