Massage therapy

Massage therapy is a system of treatment that works by stroking, kneading, tapping or pressing the soft tissues of the body - to relax you mentally and physically. It has been used for centuries. Massage may concentrate on the muscles or on the acupuncture points.

There are several types of massage

• Swedish massage - most common type of all over body massage
• Deep tissue massage - used for long standing, deep muscular problems
• Sports massage - used before or after sport or to help heal sports injuries
• Neuromuscular massage - helps balance the nervous system and the muscles
• Shiatsu
• Aromatherapy massage
• Reflexology - applied to points on the hands and feet with the aim of improving the health of other parts of the body

Massage techniques can range from being soft and gentle to vigorous and brisk - and sometimes even a bit uncomfortable. Gentler forms of massage such as aromatherapy affect your nerve endings, possibly releasing chemicals called endorphins and reducing sensations of pain. Stronger methods, such as Swedish massage, aim to stimulate your blood circulation and lymphatic system, relax muscles and ease knotted tissues that can cause pain and stiffness. Therapists may focus on your whole body, or concentrate on a specific part of the body such as your head, neck or shoulders. Some types of massage such as shiatsu may also gently stretch parts of your body to release stiffness.

As with many types of complementary therapies, one of the main reasons that people with cancer use massage is because it helps them feel good, and is a way they feel they can help themselves. Massage for people with cancer is promoted as a natural way to help you relax and cope with

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Headaches
• Pain

Generally, massage therapy can help lift your mood, improve your sleep and enhance your well being. There is some evidence to help support these benefits.

Some massage therapists, or people who use massage, also claim that massage therapy can

• Get rid of a waste product called lactic acid from the muscles in your body
• Help you recover more quickly from fatigue after exercise
• Break up scar tissue in the body
• Help with arthritis
• Prevent or improve a cold

There is no scientific evidence to support these claims.

There is no scientific evidence that massage can treat cancer. But massage is commonly used to help people feel better and to reduce some of the symptoms of cancer or the side effects of treatment.

A UK study in 2007 found that that aromatherapy massage reduced anxiety and depression in people with cancer. The benefit only lasted a few weeks, though.

A small Swedish study was published in May 2007. It looked at giving massage to breast cancer patients during chemotherapy treatment. Ten patients had massage on five occasions. The patients said that massage during chemotherapy gave them a retreat from the feeling of uneasiness about chemotherapy. They said that massage

• Distracted them from the frightening experience
• Turned negative feelings to positive
• Relaxed them
• Made them feel cared for

A large American study published in 2004 looked at the effects of massage therapy on almost 1,300 people with cancer, over 3 years. The types of massage used were

• Swedish massage
• Light touch massage
• Reflexology

People in hospital had 20 minute massage sessions, while those treated as outpatients had 60 minute sessions. The study found that, overall, massage therapy greatly reduced these symptoms in all patients

• Pain
• Sickness
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Depression

The benefits lasted longer in the patients who had the 60 minute sessions. Swedish massage and light touch massage appeared to help more than reflexology.

Another American study of 230 people with cancer having chemotherapy showed that massage therapy and healing touch helped reduce anxiety, fatigue and mood upsets in some patients.

The Cochrane Collaboration carried out a systematic review in 2004 of the studies on aromatherapy and massage for relieving symptoms in people with cancer. The review pulled together the published results of all trials investigating aromatherapy massage for people with cancer to draw its conclusions. The researchers found that massage and aromatherapy massage did help people feel better emotionally in the short term. These therapies may also have an effect on physical symptoms. But we need much larger trials, and a longer follow up period after trials, before we know if aromatherapy adds to the effects of massage. You can read the Cochrane Review ‘Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer’ in full on the Cochrane Collaboration website.

The CancerHelp UK sections about aromatherapy, reflexology and shiatsu contain information on the evidence to support the use of these types of massage therapy.

There is information about current UK research in the complementary therapies research section of CancerHelp UK.

On your first visit for a massage, the therapist will ask you some general questions about your health, lifestyle and medical history. If they are concerned that massage may interfere with your health or any medicines you are on, they may ask if they can contact your GP. This is just to check that your GP is happy for you to have massage. In general, it is rare that your doctor will say no. But there may be situations where your doctor recommends that you don’t have massage.

If you have shiatsu massage you normally lie on soft mats on the floor, fully clothed. With most other massage therapies, you will lie on a massage couch (table) for your treatment. You will need to take off your clothes, except for your underwear. Your therapist will then cover you in a gown or large towels, exposing only the parts of your body that they are working on. If you are having a whole body treatment you will lie face down for the first half, and on your back for the rest of the treatment.

Most massage sessions usually last an hour, but this can depend on your therapist. Your therapist might play some relaxing music during your massage. The amount of pressure your therapist applies when massaging you can vary greatly between the types of massages. It is important that you let your therapist know if you feel uncomfortable and want them to stop at any time. However, most people say that having a massage is very relaxing and soothing.

Remember - your therapist should never massage your genital area or touch you in what you feel is a sexual way. If you are uncomfortable at any time during your massage you can stop the session and leave. There is information about stopping a therapy or changing therapists in the complementary and alternative therapies section of CancerHelp UK.

Most people don’t have any side effects from having a massage. You may feel a bit light headed, tired or thirsty afterwards. Your massage therapist may offer you a glass of water when your treatment has finished. They should not hurry you to get up and leave until you feel comfortable. Massage therapists say you should drink plenty of water after your treatment. This is to get rid of toxins released from body tissues during the massage.

It’s not safe for everyone to have massage therapy. So always talk to your doctor before using any type of massage therapy, and always make sure your massage therapist is fully qualified. This is especially important if you

• Are having cancer treatment
• Are very weak
• Have bone fractures
• Have heart problems
• Suffer from arthritis
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

People with cancer should avoid very deep massage - gentle is safer. Some people worry that having a massage when you have cancer may make the cancer cells travel to other parts of the body. No research has proved this to be true.

If you are having radiotherapy you should avoid massaging the treated area. And don’t have massage to any area of your body where the skin is broken, bleeding or bruised.

You should also avoid general massage therapy to your arms or legs if they are swollen because of lymphoedema. However, there is a particular type of massage used for lymphoedema called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). This is a very specialised treatment and people who need MLD are referred to a lymphoedema specialist by their doctor.

Private massage treatments usually cost between £20 and £60 for a 30 to 90 minute session. It is very important that you have your treatments with a qualified therapist. There is information about finding a therapist further down this page.

Many cancer centres and hospitals in the UK now offer patients different types of massage therapy free of charge. Ask your nurse or doctor if this is an option on the ward or centre where you are having your treatment. If these therapies aren’t available, they may be able to direct you to a voluntary organisation that offers people with cancer complementary therapy treatments free or a reduced cost.

The complementary therapy organisations page has a list of organisations that may be able to give you some advice about where to get a massage.

At the moment there is no single professional organisation that regulates the massage profession in the UK. Therapists can join several associations, but there is no law to say that they have to. Nor do they have to finish any specific training. But most reputable therapists will belong to the organisations that are part of the General Council for Massage Therapy.

It's vital that the person who treats you is properly trained and qualified to treat you. The best way to find a reliable therapist is to

• Contact one of the massage organsiations and ask for a list of therapists in your area
• Ask the therapist how many years of training they've had and how long they've been practising and if they have treated cancer patients before
• Ask if they have indemnity insurance (in case of negligence)

CancerHelp UK’s complementary and alternative therapies section has more information about how to find a reliable therapist, and the questions you should ask.

There are a few different massage organisations. 

General Council for Massage Therapy
The General Council for Massage Therapy is a group of organisations who are working together to develop a common set of practice and training standards. They aim to have one professional body holding a register of UK massage therapists. They have details of all the massage therapy organisations that are members on their website.

Phone: 0151 430 8199
Email gcmt@btconnect.com
Website www.gcmt.org.uk

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council
CNHC is the UK regulator for complementary healthcare practitioners. Its key function is to enhance public protection by giving the general public access to a list of practitioners who have been assessed as meeting national standards of competence and practice. The CNHC currently registers nine disciplines with more to follow. Registered practitioners are able to use the CNHC quality mark on certificates and publicity materials.

Phone: 0203 178 2199
Email: info@cnhc.org.uk
Website: www.cnhc.org.uk