What does the medical community say about massage?

"No single therapeutic agent can be compared in efficiency with this familiar but perfect tool... the human hand. If half as much research had been expended on the principles governing manual treatment as upon pharmacology, the hand would be esteemed today on a par with drugs in acceptability and power." J. Madison Taylor, M.D. 1908

"Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City is a national leader in cancer treatment. Researchers recently surveyed patients who had therapeutic massage added to their treatment regimens. Over a three year period, results impressively confirmed the value of massage. Anxiety levels decreased by 52%, pain by 40%, fatigue by 41%, depression by 32%, and nausea by 21%. Researchers concluded that massage is a “markedly effective, uncommonly noninvasive and inexpensive way” to control symptoms for cancer patients." Adapted from “Better Living & Health”, Portland (Maine) Press-Herald, Summer, 2006

"Technical advances are important but we need to remember the difference between treating the disease and treating a patient. Massage is an extension of the time honored principle of laying on of hands. Massage therapy can help reduce stress, fears, and pain - all of this without side effects. Whether the mechanism of action of massage is physiologic or psychologic matters not to me. The fact that it makes the patients feel better and allows them to better deal with their illness or treatment is good enough for me." Roger E. Alberty, MD, Director - Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Portland, Oregon quoted in McDonald Gayle, Medicine Hands; Tallahassee, Florida; Findhorn Press, 2007

"Massage therapy is not contraindicated in cancer patients, massaging a tumor is, but there is a great deal more to a person than the tumor." Bernie Siegel, MD

"Anxiety may worsen patients' perception of their physical symptoms or may lead to overestimating the risks associated with treatment. Because of under-treated psychological symptoms, patients with cancer may not follow through with treatment recommendations or may report a higher severity of physical symptoms." Lisa Corbin, MD, Safety and efficacy of massage therapy for patients with cancer, Cancer Control, 2005;12(3):158-164

How will massage help me with my cancer journey?

Massage is unique among the complementary therapies in its balanced effect on both sides of the mind-body connection. Comfort, relaxation, peace and serenity are the only goals of this gentle, caring, one-on-one attention. However, the effects often spill over into other areas of life as well.

Patients and their caregivers report many and varied changes after massage:

General Benefits

Deep relaxation

Reduced stress

Improved sleep

Reduced fluid accumulation

Eased constipation

Increased alertness and mental clarity

Reduced anxiety

Less nausea

Reduced pain

Following Surgery

Reduced anxiety in advance of surgery

Easier recovery from anesthesia

Reduced post-surgical pain

Improved scars

Improved adhesions

Reduced swelling

Improved range of motion

Easier adaptation to implants

Following Radiation or Chemotherapy

Reduced anxiety in advance of and during treatment

Reduced post-treatment fatigue

Improved appetite

Improved peripheral neuropathy

Emotional Benefits

Decreased anxiety

Decreased depression

Increased feelings of well-being

Being pleasantly distracted

Improved body self-image

Restored hope

Satisfaction in taking control over a part of the healing process

Massage truly is an antidote to the feeling of being a cog in the medical machine. Patients, caregivers, health care workers and others under unremitting daily stress find massage is an oasis of peace in a frantic world.