First, because clients tell us.
“The pain dropped down to nothing.” “My anxiety improved.” “I feel like I slept better, and that helped my stress and my fatigue.” “My feet felt less numb afterward. They felt more in contact with the ground when I walked.”
Second, because caregivers tell us.
“She seems more calm. Less depressed.” “Their pain improved, and they didn’t have to take as much medicine.”
And, my favorite, from a caregiver: “After the massage, he slept longer and better than he has slept in weeks. I got a few hours off while he slept.”
Third, because science tells us.
Or, more accurately, studies suggest massage therapy helps pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression in people with cancer.
There’s a reason that last statement is a little…measured, the word “suggest” rather than "prove."
In fact, not all massage therapy studies are equal, and there are "levels of evidence" in massage therapy just as there are in medicine, PT, and nursing.
Before massage school, I did bench science, studying cells and proteins. As a science teacher for massage therapists, I’ve encouraged them to make measured claims about massage research. I made it a bit of a mission to challenge some of the common, unsubstantiated myths about massage therapy. I might even have written an e-book on that topic.
Measured claims are more accurate than sweeping statements drawn from individual, often small studies. I teach therapists to look at the larger “studies of studies,” that pool data from multiple investigations. Look at the body of work for a big picture. These are the top two tiers on the "levels of evidence" hierarchy here.
Following my own guideline, I am “thoughtfully optimistic” about the research on oncology massage therapy. The body of work is getting there. Back in 2008 or so, when I presented at a conference with the late Cynthia Myers of the Moffitt Cancer Center, we had done a study of the studies, and concluded that some of the strongest research suggested massage therapy helped with pain and anxiety.
I still think so. Here is a study of a study that leans in that direction.
Consider this, from April 2024:
The authors found a variety of massage therapy interventions helpful for pain and anxiety in the 4-month period after breast cancer surgery, in outpatient and inpatient settings. Notably, they see this effect in other postsurgical populations, not just cancer.
Now think about what this could mean.
The “big five” side effects/symptoms/complications in cancer care are pain, anxiety, fatigue, nausea, and depression. Think how they might interact.
Anxiety is a known amplifier of other symptoms. When people are anxious, it can make pain and nausea worse. It can make everything worse. But also, pain and nausea make people anxious. Depression can worsen pain, which can worsen depression, and so on.
There are multiple cause-and-effect possibilities.
See what might happen when skilled oncology massage therapy enters the chat. See how less anxiety can ease pain. Watch that pain relieve anxiety, depression, and so on. If a course of massage therapy can ease depression, then what?
Again, relief on multiple levels, down to multiple causes-and-effects.
There is a place for research, and a place for common sense.
I’m a big fan of good clinical research. As much as anyone, I want to see the true effects of massage therapy—and the size of those effects—revealed in a strong body of research. I want to know when and where massage therapy isn't helpful, too. When and how it is. I want best practices to come from research. I want it all.
As a researcher friend once told me , research is a collection of stories. I want to hear those stories, and see what stands out in sharp relief.
But I'm not going to stop work to wait on that data.
In this moment, our clients and caregivers are telling us story after story of the relief they feel from skilled oncology massage therapy. These stories are compelling, moving, and true. What happens to you on the massage table is true, whether or not we can trace it exactly back to something in the session, a certain massage therapy technique.
Good human touch has lived inside these common truths for centuries. It will continue to, for more centuries. These truths inform this moment, as people with cancer past and present continue to seek out the comfort, care, and symptom relief of skilled oncology massage therapy.
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