If you (or someone you know) have been diagnosed with cancer, one of the last things you might think of is to get a massage. Yet, that may be one of the most beneficial and relaxing things you could do to improve your quality of life. As a cancer patient, your health is challenged in many ways—by the cancer itself, the treatments that are prescribed to fight it, and the emotions that arise as you work through the diagnosis. Massage can provide relief from many of these physical and emotional effects and assist you in feeling more comfortable and living life more fully.

Physically, cancer attacks cells and often reduces the function of some organs or body parts. In some cases, cancer doesn’t limit a person’s normal activities, while for others, the disease is debilitating. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation can challenge the immune system and the ability to perform normal daily activities even further. Massage therapy can help to reduce the pain, nausea and fatigue that can accompany cancer and its treatments. Massage lowers heart and breathing rates, which, in turn, reduces the production of stress hormones, relaxing the muscles. This is known as the relaxation response. Additionally, toxins are removed and nutrients brought to the cells as blood circulation is increased.

Emotionally, you’re likely to go through a full gamut of emotions after being diagnosed. Reactions to the diagnoses can include anxiety, fear, depression or loneliness. All too often, medical treatment procedures for cancer patients can feel isolating and impersonal, even though the people providing the treatments have your best interests in mind. These emotions can cause physical reactions in the body, but they can be released or lessened through massage. A massage provides you with touch therapy that is comforting, supportive and non-invasive through compassionate, personal connection. This is not to suggest that massage is a substitute for counseling, but it can help you connect with yourself and move through diagnosis and treatment.

Massage is increasingly being accepted by the medical community as a “complementary treatment” to mainstream cancer treatment modalities. Complementary treatments are treatments performed in conjunction with medical treatment. Massage is not considered an “alternative treatment,” which would infer that it’s intended to replace conventional medical treatment. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City, Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, and Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland are among many major cancer centers that promote massage therapy as part of their treatment plans.

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS REGARDING TYPES OF MASSAGE I CAN RECEIVE?
There can be restrictions with regard to the level of massage you can receive. This will depend upon your type and stage of cancer, other medical conditions and your activity level. Some patients can have a typical Swedish massage. However, many people living with cancer require a modified massage; modifications are needed to address the many different complications that result from the disease. Some complications include the presence or risk of lymphedema and blood clots. Massage modifications may include lighter pressure, shorter sessions, positioning, and allowing for medical devices such as shunts or ports.

WHEN SHOULD I RECEIVE A MASSAGE DURING MY TREATMENT REGIMEN?
Often, massage is most effective the day prior to a treatment, as the body’s systems may be most receptive to massage at that time. However, emotionally, you may need a massage at a different time. Taking all the factors that influence your comfort into consideration, you and the massage therapist should decide together when the best time for massage is during your treatment schedule. This may change as the course of treatment goes along.
Fortunately, some of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatments can be mitigated by massage. The net result is that massage therapy is a safe and effective approach that can help you live with cancer in a positive, hopeful and relaxed manner.

CAN MASSAGE SPREAD CANCER?
Massage hasn’t always been considered beneficial for cancer patients. But, this notion has changed over the last two to three decades, as more consideration and research has been devoted to whether those thoughts had merit.

In 1993, Debra Curties wrote a thorough report that analyzed the spread of cancer and concerns about whether massage could cause cancer to spread in the body. The steps that must occur for cancer to spread from a tumor site are as follows:

1. Cells break away from the tumor
2. Cancer cells travel to another receptive site
3. Cells implant in new location
4. Cells receive nourishment and begin to grow

In the report, step one was the only step deemed feasible to possibly be affected by massage, as potentially the direct pressure being applied during massage could cause the breaking away of cells. For this reason, the caution that direct pressure is never applied on or near a tumor site is strictly followed.

In the analysis, massage was not seen as having any more influence on any of the other steps in spreading the cancer than what would happen with a patient’s normal activity. Many doctors even encourage their cancer patients to get as much exercise as possible.

With proper intake information and health history, a massage therapist can provide a massage that is safe, without spreading the cancer. When patients search for a massage therapist, the therapist must be licensed in their state and should have received training specific to the needs of cancer patients.

Sources: “Could Massage Therapy Promote Cancer Metastasi?” by Debra Curties, American Massage Therapy Association, 2000

Gary Lloyd, LMBT, is a massage therapist and owner of West Asheville Massage and Healing Arts. He received intensive training in massage for cancer patients from Tracy Walton, a nationally known teacher and author in the field, and he is a graduate of the advanced massage therapy course at Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy and a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Gary can be reached at 828-423-3978 or gary@westashevillemassage.com.

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