Why do people with cancer use massage?

As well as improving physical symptoms, some people with cancer say that having a massage:

• makes them feel whole again
• helps them to relax
• helps them share feelings in an informal setting
• makes them feel more positive about their body
• rebuilds hope

Research shows that massage of muscle and soft tissue does not spread cancer cells.

What are the benefits of massage?

Scientific studies have looked at the effects of various body-based practices on people having cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery.
These studies have shown that massage may reduce:

• pain
• faitgue
• nausea
• anxiety and depression

Individuals who have had massages during cancer treatments have reported a range of positive outcomes such as improvements in:

• sleep
• the health of the scar tissue
• quality of life
• mental clarity and alertness
• the range of movement

Is massage safe for people with cancer?

Light, relaxing massage can safely be given to people at all stages of cancer. Tumour or treatment sites should not be massaged to avoid discomfort or pressure on the affected area and underlying organs. If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor or call Cancer Council 13 11 20. Some people worry that massage can spread cancer cells throughout the body via the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, organs and nodes through which lymphatic fluid (lymph) flows. It is part of the body’s immune system. Lymphatic circulation occurs naturally as we move. Cancer may spread (metastasise) into the lymphatic system via the lymph nodes, or it may start in the lymphatic system itself. However, the circulation of lymph – from massage or other movement – does not cause cancer to spread. Researchers have shown that cancer develops and spreads because of changes to a cell’s DNA (genetic mutations) and other processes in the body.

Congestion is what steals our quality of life.

Definition of congestion is the slowed, sluggish, or stopped movement of blood toward its normal outflows. Places of congestion in our bodies are where believe toxins accumulate. Places where their pressures build.

Congestion is the source of much of our somatic pain as inflammatory cycles are spawned as vessels become distended. And, congestion is definitely a primary coconspirator in the perpetuation of chronic somatic difficulties.

Imagine the human body as a whole experiencing significant stress: cringing, shortening, narrowing toward the center and even sometimes twisting, thus producing enormous contraction of the external somatic tissues, pushing juxtaposed bones to the limits of their normal range within their joint capsules and potentiating the protective response that out soft tissues are dedicated to - protecting our joints. Internally, this cringing, shortening, narrowing and twisting adds resistance to the delivery and return of the blood supply. Together, these internal and external effects of stress are the causative factors of congestion and the predominant reason that needs to seek massage therapy out. It assists you to reduce congestion and regain and maintain your quality of life.

- Dale Alexander, LMT, PhD
Dale-alexander.com

These are health benefits of the lymph massage:

1. Against cellulite. It works best in earlier stages, even if it is effective in every moment. The ideal case is to be started during the teenage. Cellulite appears when the fat deposits in our feet compress the lymph vessels, turning difficult the lymph flow. If the intervention is not rapid, the tissue fills with liquids and toxins and the fat deposits tend to turn harder, producing the "orange skin".

When the cellulite is on its incipient stages, it is easy to activate the flow of the accumulated wastes and solve definitively the issue. Normally, just three months (for example February, March and April) are enough to get satisfactory results.

2. Swollen, heavy and edematose feet. Lymph flows from the periphery of the limbs to their center. When for no matter which reason this path is interrupted, the lymph falls back due to the action of the gravity flooding the feet tissues and causing swelling. The lymph drainage helps lymph to complete its route and it is the choice treatment. In 3-4 weeks, the problem is improved. If it's chronic, the doctor will point the ideal frequency of the massage.

3. Pregnancy and PMS syndrome. The drainage is very effective in both cases, but as a preventive method. The hormonal changes during pregnancy determine liquid retention and a decrease in the tonus of the vein and lymph vessels. The drainage can be started beginning with the third pregnancy month and made till the delivery. It is also effective against the swelling experienced by many women a few days before the menstruation. In this case, the massage is made immediately after the end of the cycle for a week.

4. Scars. If during the scarring process of a wound interstitial liquid accumulates forming an edema, a hypertrophic (cheloid, swollen) scar forms. The lymph draining has a "planning" effect on the scar, even in older ones, because it activates the lymphocytes, involved in reconstructing the tissue.

5. Acne and couperisis. In acne, the skin is inflamed, accompanied generally by liquid retained amongst the skin cells. The depurative and draining effect of this technique decreases gradually the inflammation and the edemas, favoring a more rapid cure.

Couperosis is due to an alteration of the peripheral circulation of the face, especially on cheeks, nose, and chin. In time, the reddening turns permanent, accompanied by the inesthetic "veinlets". If the condition is in the initial phase, the lymph drainage can fix it, but if it's on an advanced stage, it just improves the look attenuating the skin symptoms. 15 sessions can check the skin's reaction to this treatment, when even total cure can be achieved.

6. Surgery. Lymph drainage is effective for getting rid of edemas and hematomas and boosting tissue regeneration following a surgery. But it is good not only after the operation; if made a month before the operation, it favors the elimination of the liquids and toxins from the body, spurring cells' ability to regenerate and repair tissues.

A preliminary study of the effects of a single session of Swedish massage on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and immune function in normal individuals.

OBJECTIVES:

Massage therapy is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States with 8.7% of adults receiving at least one massage within the last year; yet, little is known about the physiologic effects of a single session of massage in healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine effects of a single session of Swedish massage on neuroendocrine and immune function. It was hypothesized that Swedish Massage Therapy would increase oxytocin (OT) levels, which would lead to a decrease in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity and enhanced immune function.

DESIGN:

The study design was a head-to-head, single-session comparison of Swedish Massage Therapy with a light touch control condition. Serial measurements were performed to determine OT, arginine-vasopressin (AVP), adrenal corticotropin hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), circulating phenotypic lymphocytes markers, and mitogen-stimulated cytokine production.

SETTING:

This research was conducted in an outpatient research unit in an academic medical center.

SUBJECTS:

Medically and psychiatrically healthy adults, 18-45 years old, participated in this study.

INTERVENTION:

The intervention tested was 45 minutes of Swedish Massage Therapy versus a light touch control condition, using highly specified and identical protocols.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

The standardized mean difference was calculated between Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch on pre- to postintervention change in levels of OT, AVP, ACTH, CORT, lymphocyte markers, and cytokine levels.

RESULTS:

Compared to light touch, Swedish Massage Therapy caused a large effect size decrease in AVP, and a small effect size decrease in CORT, but these findings were not mediated by OT. Massage increased the number of circulating lymphocytes, CD 25+ lymphocytes, CD 56+ lymphocytes, CD4 + lymphocytes, and CD8+ lymphocytes (effect sizes from 0.14 to 0.43). Mitogen-stimulated levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, and IFN-γ decreased for subjects receiving Swedish Massage Therapy versus light touch (effect sizes from -0.22 to -0.63). Swedish Massage Therapy decreased IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 levels relative to baseline measures.

CONCLUSIONS:

Preliminary data suggest that a single session of Swedish Massage Therapy produces measurable biologic effects. If replicated, these findings may have implications for managing inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.

PMID: 20809811 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] PMCID: PMC3107905

According AMTA, massage helps both physically and mentally.

"Often times people are stressed in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. What they require is someone to listen, someone to touch them, someone to care. That does not exist in modern medicine.
One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don't touch their patients any more. Touch just isn't there. Years ago massage was a big part of nursing. There was so much care, so much touch, so much goodness conveyed through massage. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians. They're writing charts, dealing with insurance notes, they're doing procedures and often there is no room for massage any more.

I believe massage therapy is absolutely key in the healing process not only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress, it is obviously foundational in the healing process any time and anywhere."

Joan Borysenko - Massage Journal Interview, Fall 1999

• Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation