A major benefit of massage as a medical treatment is a sense of peace and calm, created in the meditative state, allowing the patient to calmly deal with emotional issues cancer patients suffers from and also induces healing at the cellular level.
Research into the effects of touch on healing has led the medical community to prescribe massage for cancer patients, who report reduced pain, improved coping skills and self-esteem, and a better quality of life.
A new field called oncology massage is expanding to treat cancer patients. Oncology massage therapists have specialized training in cancer treatments and the side effects of standard treatments.
Cancer patients should discuss the benefits of massage with their oncologists to determine how massage therapy will benefit an individual patient. Most cancer patients can benefit from reduced stress and greater relaxation provided by a massage. Some cancer patients may have conditions that put them at risk of problems during a massage. These patients should have massage only under a health care provider’s guidance and by an oncology massage therapist.