Massage for Cancer Patients is Embraced

National organizations as well as local hospitals and cancer centers embrace massage as a complimentary treatment for cancer patients and survivors.  Massage for people living with cancer continues to move into mainstream medical care. Check out what a few of them have to say about the benefits of massage for cancer patients and survivors.

• American Cancer Society - Some studies of massage for cancer patients suggest that it can decrease stress, anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue. These potential benefits hold great promise for people who have cancer, who often must deal with the stresses of a serious illness in addition to unpleasant side effects of conventional medical treatment.
• BreastCancer.org - Studies have demonstrated that massage can offer some health benefits for people with cancer. Massage has been found to be helpful for: anxiety, pain, fatigue, immune function.
• Chemotherapy.com - Massage, which increases blood flow and may provide pain relief associated with chemo induced peripheral neuropathy.  Neuropathy is tingling and numbness that often appears as a side-effect of chemo.  
• Mayo Clinic - Studies have found massage can be helpful in relieving pain in people with cancer. It may also help relieve anxiety, fatigue and stress. 
• MD Anderson - The Integrative Medicine Center at MD Anderson offers full body massages and relaxation chair massages to patients and their family members.

It is encouraging to see the big players embracing what many massage therapists have known for a long time.  Massage for people living with cancer can provide relief from the side-effects of cancer treatment.  

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