Massage is Therapy For Cancer Patients
- Frank Gioeli
- Mar 8
- 3 min read
This week I completed a continuing education course on massage therapy for cancer patients, and it was one of the most meaningful trainings I’ve taken. It was in Parsippany, NJ, was two days long, and it was a great informative time! I have also completed an 8 hour online course with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center which had it's own online protocol for treating patients as well as a lot of research based facts to prove massage works. In short, the research was an IMPACT trial (The Integrative Medicine for Pain and Patience with Advanced Cancer Trial) that demonstrated that both acupuncture and massage improved Quality of Life, and improved the patients symptoms of fatigue and insomnia. Both also decreased pain and medication use.
The biggest takeaway? Massage can be incredibly supportive for people going through cancer treatment—but it must always be done safely, thoughtfully, and with medical approval.
First and most important: doctor’s permission is always required. Every cancer journey is different, and working with the patient’s healthcare team ensures massage is appropriate and tailored to their needs.
There are also specific timing guidelines therapists follow. For clients undergoing chemotherapy, massage should only be performed at least 72 hours after treatment. This allows the body time to process the medication and reduces the risk of additional stress on the system and reduces risk of any medicine secreted from clients skin to therapist. For clients receiving radiation therapy, massage should generally wait until radiation treatments are completed, since the skin and tissues can be extremely sensitive during that time.
Another thing to be aware of, is that I most likely will wear gloves during the session. This protects both the client and therapist, particularly when someone’s immune system may be compromised.
For our knowledge, the massage was 30 minutes long - 5 minutes of parasympathetic regulation, 20 minutes on pain area with light to medium pressure, followed by effleurage to the heart. Sessions were 1/week for 10 weeks and then monthly for four months. Click the link below to see more
Now for the awesome TL:DR part—because there’s a lot of it.
Gentle, specialized massage can help support cancer patients by addressing several common symptoms:
Physical discomfort and muscle tension from treatment, bed rest, or stress
Digestive issues, which can sometimes be supported through relaxation and gentle abdominal work when medically approved
Stress and anxiety, which many patients experience during diagnosis and treatment
Sleep difficulties and fatigue, where relaxation techniques can help the nervous system settle
The style of massage used is very different from a typical deep tissue session. It’s usually light, slow, and highly intentional, focused on comfort, relaxation, and supporting the body rather than working intensely into muscles.
One thing I really loved learning in this course is how powerful safe touch can be. Cancer treatment can sometimes make people feel disconnected from their bodies, and compassionate, appropriate massage can help restore a sense of calm, care, and normalcy.
For me as a therapist, it’s a reminder that massage isn’t just about sore muscles—it’s about supporting the whole person. With the right training, communication with doctors, and proper precautions, massage therapy can be another small but meaningful piece of comfort during a very difficult journey.
And that’s something worth learning.
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