Massage Therapy & Cancer Patients

Massage therapy can be a valuable tool when fighting cancer. As long as some simple guidelines are followed by the massage therapist, massage can be physically and emotionally beneficial to those who are struggling with this disease.

Physical Benefits of Massage

• The physical benefits of massage for cancer patients include increased circulation of the blood and lymphatic systems, pain relief from muscle soreness, reduced swelling, reduced adhesions around incisions and somewhat improved immune system function.

Emotional Benefits of Massage

• Regular massage can lessen the isolation cancer sometimes brings and provide emotional relief from the daily stress of fighting this disease. Cancer is a disease; it is not what we become. Massage therapy can help bring a cancer patient back to her body in order to reclaim it as her own.

Guidelines

• Always consult a patient's physician prior to beginning any type of massage therapy work. Massage therapists should pay careful attention to the patient's reaction to pressure since there may be increased sensitivity to pain.

Contraindications

• Contraindications include receiving massage directly after chemotherapy or radiation treatments, as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or intense pain. Also, if the client decides that he is not capable of receiving massage for any reason, that decision should be honored.

Important Considerations

• Massage therapy should never be performed on or around the site of a tumor or the site of a recently removed tumor. Performing massage around this area could cause the cancer to spread.

Massage Alternatives

• Even if the patient cannot receive a full body massage, gentle touch can provide healing relief. Reflexology on the hands and feet or energy balancing over the body offers some comfort.