Cancer Care Massage/Oncology Massage
I am so happy to be able to offer this amazing service.
Cancer Care Massage, also known as Oncology Massage, is a specialised massage therapy that is adapted to meet the unique needs of individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Contrary to common misconceptions, research has shown that massage does not cause cancer to spread.
In fact, massage is considered safe for cancer patients at all stages of treatment, except for a few specific cases.
Many renowned oncology hospitals even offer massage as a complementary therapy to support cancer patients.
Massage has been found to provide numerous benefits for individuals with cancer, helping them feel less anxious and improving their physical and emotional well-being.
It is crucial, however, to ensure that the massage therapist is fully qualified in Oncology Massage.
They will ask specific questions related to the client’s treatment to gain a comprehensive understanding of their current stage of treatment.
This allows the therapist to tailor their techniques and strokes accordingly, ensuring a safe and effective massage experience. Whether you are in the midst of chemotherapy or have completed your treatment, treating yourself to a cancer care massage can be a wonderful way to relax and indulge in some pampering.
Benefit | |
| Pain Relief | Alleviates cancer-related pain |
| Emotional Support | Reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation |
| Improved Sleep | Enhances sleep quality |
| Alleviation of Side Effects | Eases fatigue and nausea |
| Overall Quality of Life | Contributes to a better sense of well-being |
From a PubMed Paper
(…)Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis, containing 1000 patients (498 in the massage therapy group and 502 in the control group). Massage therapy could significantly relieve cancer pain in patients (standardized mean difference = −1.16, 95% confidence interval [−1.39, −0.93], P < .00001), especially those in the perioperative period and those with hematological malignancies. (…)According to the data released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization, approximately 19.293 million new cancer cases were reported globally in 2020.(…)
Oncology Massage Research- Read the Paper in PubMed
Massage therapy can be used as a complementary alternative therapy to relieve cancer pain in patients with hematological malignancies, breast cancer, and cancers of the digestive system. It is suggested that chemotherapy patients use foot reflexology, and perioperative period patients use hand acupressure. A massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week is recommended to achieve better effects.
Oncology Massage Research- Read the Paper in PubMed
3.4.2. Type of cancer.
Massage therapy had a significant effect on relieving pain in patients with breast cancer (SMD = −1.01, 95% CI [−1.50, 0.51], P < .00001),[23,24,29,32] a greater effect on pain relief in patients with hematological malignancies (SMD = −1.37, 95% CI [−1.64, −1.10], P < .00001),[25,28,30] and a moderate effect on patients with cancers of the digestive system (SMD = −0.68, 95% CI [−1.12, −0.25], P = .006) (Table 2).[21,26,31]
3.4.3. Massage modality.
There was no statistical difference between acupressure massage and the control group in relieving cancer pain (SMD = −1.69, 95% CI [−1.81, −1.56], P = .41),[24,25,31] foot reflexology had a moderate effect on pain relief in cancer patients (SMD = −0.61, 95% CI [−0.91, −0.32], P < .00001),[21–23,28,30,33] and hand acupressure also had a moderate effect on pain relief in cancer patients with better results (SMD = −0.64, 95% CI [−1.11, −0.17], P = .02) (Table 2).[26,27]
3.4.4. Massage duration.
There was no statistical difference between the control group and the massage group in relieving cancer pain when the massage duration was <10 minutes (SMD = −1.62, 95% CI [−1.74, −1.49], P = .53),[25,27,31] while massage with a duration of 10 to 30 minutes could significantly alleviate the pain[21,24,32,33] (SMD = −1.45, 95% CI [−1.98, −0.91], P ≤ .0001) and that with a duration of ≥ 30 minutes had a moderate effect on pain relief in patients (SMD = −0.57, 95% CI [−0.79, −0.35], P < .0001) (Table 2).[22,23,26,28–30]
3.4.5. Program length.
Massage therapy with a treatment course of <1 week had a moderate effect on pain relief in cancer patients (SMD = −0.79, 95% CI [−1.04, −0.53], P < .0001),[21,22,26–28,30,31,33] and a treatment course of ≥ 1 week could significantly alleviate the pain in cancer patients (SMD = −1.37, 95% CI [−1.68, −1.06], P < .00001) (Table 2).[23–25,29,32]