The Evidence: How Massage Therapy Can Support People Living With Cancer and Cancer Recovery
Cancer and its treatments can affect the body and mind in profound ways. Pain, fatigue, anxiety, sleep disruption, and emotional distress are common, not only during treatment, but often long after it ends. Massage therapy is increasingly used as a complementary support in oncology care. Research shows it may help reduce symptom burden, support emotional well-being, and improve quality of life for people living with cancer and those in recovery.
What the research shows…
1) Massage can reduce cancer-related pain
Cancer pain can result from the disease itself, treatment side effects, or recovery processes. Evidence from randomized trials and meta-analyses shows massage can significantly reduce pain intensity and improve comfort. Research findings include:
- Significant reductions in cancer pain relief compared with standard care
- Improved physical comfort and ability to engage in daily activities
- Benefits across multiple cancer types and treatment stages
Massage therapy has demonstrated measurable pain relief in clinical studies and meta-analyses, supporting its role as a complementary therapy in cancer care.
2) Support for anxiety and emotional distress
A cancer diagnosis and treatment journey can create ongoing emotional strain. Research shows massage can help regulate stress responses and improve psychological well-being. Studies report:
- Reduced anxiety symptoms
- Improved mood and emotional comfort
- Increased relaxation and sense of calm
3) Evidence for improved sleep and reduced sleep disturbances
Sleep disruption is one of the most common concerns for people living with cancer and survivors. Research findings include:
- Improved sleep quality and longer sleep duration
- Reduced insomnia symptoms
- Improved restfulness and recovery
Randomized trials show massage therapy can significantly improve self-reported sleep and objective sleep outcomes in cancer survivors.
4) Support during recovery and rehabilitation
After treatment, including surgery such as mastectomy, people may experience stiffness, swelling, fatigue, and emotional distress. Systematic reviews report massage therapy can:
- Improve range of motion and flexibility
- Reduce swelling and lymphedema
- Enhance quality of life
- Support physical and emotional recovery
Massage has been shown to positively impact symptom management and functional recovery in breast cancer survivors.
5) Impact on fatigue and quality of life
Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most persistent and distressing symptoms during and after treatment. Evidence shows massage may:
- Reduce fatigue severity
- Improve mood and energy
- Enhance overall quality of life
Systematic reviews of randomized trials suggest massage is a promising complementary approach for managing fatigue in breast cancer survivors.
6) Physiological mechanisms supported by research
Massage supports both physical and emotional regulation through measurable biological effects. Research indicates massage may:
- Promote relaxation and nervous system regulation
- Improve circulation and tissue mobility
- Reduce muscle tension and discomfort
- Support mood regulation through neurochemical changes
These mechanisms help explain why massage can influence pain, anxiety, sleep, and fatigue at the same time.
7) Massage as complementary oncology care
Massage is not a treatment for cancer itself, but research consistently identifies it as:
- Non-invasive
- Low risk when delivered by trained practitioners
- Supportive alongside medical treatment
- Beneficial during treatment and recovery
Integrative oncology approaches increasingly include massage as part of supportive care to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
What this means in practice
The evidence does not suggest massage cures cancer, but it does show meaningful benefits for symptom relief and well-being. People often report improvements in:
- Cancer-related pain
- Anxiety and emotional distress
- Sleep quality
- Fatigue and energy
- Physical comfort and mobility
- Overall quality of life
Massage can provide a supportive space for the body and nervous system to rest and recover, something many people living with cancer deeply need.
References
Belloni, S., Bonucci, M., Arrigoni, C., Dellafiore, F., & Caruso, R. (2023). Complementary and integrative medicine for improving cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review and pooled meta-analysis. Clinical Therapeutics.
Guerra-Martín, M. D., Tejedor-Bueno, M. S., & Correa-Casado, M. (2021). Effectiveness of complementary therapies in cancer patients: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Lopes-Júnior, L. C., Rosa, G. S., Pessanha, R. M., Schuab, S. I. P. C., Nunes, K. Z., & Amorim, M. H. C. (2020). Efficacy of complementary therapies in the management of cancer pain in palliative care: A systematic review. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem.
Mansilla, J. R., Díaz, A. S., Sánchez, B. G., Ramírez-Durán, M. V., Garrido Ardila, E. M., Cilleros Sánchez, M. C., & Jiménez Palomares, M. (2025). Effects of massage therapy in breast cancer survivors with mastectomy: A systematic review. Cancers.
Samuel, S. R., Gururaj, R., Kumar, K. V., Vira, P., Saxena, P. U. P., & Keogh, J. W. L. (2021). Randomized control trial evidence for the benefits of massage and relaxation therapy on sleep in cancer survivors: A systematic review. Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
Wang, T., Zhai, J., Liu, X.-L., Yao, L.-Q., & Tan, J.-Y. (2021). Massage therapy for fatigue management in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review and descriptive analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Yao, C., Cheng, Y., Zhu, Q., Lv, Z., Kong, L., & Fang, M. (2021). Clinical evidence for the effects of manual therapy on cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Zhang, Y., Wang, S., Ma, X., Yuan, Y., Cheng, H., Lin, L., & Tian, L. (2023). Massage therapy can effectively relieve cancer pain: A meta-analysis. Medicine.