Massage and Cancer: What to Tell Your Therapist and Which Areas Need Caution

Urgent Signs First

Some cancer-related problems need urgent care rather than massage. A swollen, painful, hot, red leg or arm could be a blood clot or an infection. The NHS lists cancer among the things that make a clot (DVT) more likely and says to get medical help as soon as possible if you think you have one. [1] If a swollen leg comes with shortness of breath or chest pain, call 911 in the US; the NHS says 999 in the UK. [1] The NHS describes cellulitis as a skin infection that makes skin painful, hot and swollen, is treated with antibiotics, and can be serious if not treated quickly. [2] If you have a fever or feel generally unwell during treatment, call your cancer team before any appointment.

The Short Version

Massage is used by many people with cancer to feel more relaxed and to cope. It does not treat cancer. Cancer Research UK says there is no scientific evidence that massage can treat cancer. [3] NCCIH says massage is usually safe when used appropriately, but special precautions may be needed for people with cancer. [4]

A 2005 review in the journal of a US cancer center concluded that conventional cancer care can safely include massage, although people with cancer may be at higher risk of rare adverse events. [5] That review is older, so treat it as background rather than current guidance.

Does Massage Spread Cancer?

Cancer Research UK says some people worry that massage may make cancer cells travel to other parts of the body, but no research has proved this to be true. [3] That is not the same as proof that it cannot happen, and we did not find a large study designed to test it. Proper evidence not found for either a proven risk or a proven absence of risk: we searched PubMed for massage with cancer, metastasis, safety and adverse events and read the NCCIH, NHS and Cancer Research UK pages. Cancer Research UK still advises avoiding very deep massage (see below). Our claim check page covers the claim in more detail.

What to Tell Your Therapist

Say all of this at the start, in your own words:

• the type of cancer and where it is or was
• what treatment you are having or have had (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy) and when
• any areas that are sore, numb, swollen, bruised, sore-skinned or recently treated
• any swelling in an arm or leg (lymphedema)
• your other conditions and medicines, including blood thinners
• that you have checked with your cancer team

Cancer Research UK advises talking to your cancer doctor or specialist nurse before using massage therapy. [3] NCCIH says therapists may need to modify their usual techniques, for example by using less pressure than usual in areas sensitive because of cancer or its treatment. [4]

What the Evidence Says About Benefit

Cancer Research UK says most studies of massage in cancer are small or have design limitations, and results on symptoms are inconclusive because of study quality. [3] NCCIH says a 2016 evaluation of 19 studies (more than 1,200 participants) found some evidence that massage might help with pain and anxiety, but the quality was very low. [4] Trials of massage cannot hide from people whether they received it, so feeling better may partly reflect expectation and attention. [9] For the symptom evidence, see massage for cancer-related symptoms.

Finding Suitable Care

Cancer Research UK suggests asking a therapist how many years of training they have, whether they have training for supporting people with cancer, and whether they have indemnity insurance. It also says some UK cancer centers offer massage, with therapists likely to have extra training and supervision. [3] We do not list or recommend therapists. See oncology massage and massage in cancer care and palliative care. Cancer Research UK's page was last reviewed in September 2022 and is marked as due for review.