Work

A pilot study of the impact of massage therapy on symptom burden during infusion in patients with cancer

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Massage therapy (MT) is a popular integrative therapy sought by patients with cancer that improves quality of life. This pilot study assesses the therapeutic effects of massage therapy on patient reported symptoms during chemotherapy infusion. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated outcomes from patients receiving a hand and/or foot massage from 2023-2024 during chemotherapy infusion at a comprehensive cancer center. Patients completed a pre- and post-massage modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) using a numerical scale from 0-10. A questionnaire was provided to infusion nurses to assess their perspective. Mixed effects linear regression models were used to evaluate changes in symptoms incorporating massage type, its interaction with time, and demographic covariates. Results: A total of 313 patients received 652 MT sessions and included for analyses. The participants were mostly female (74%) with a median age of 62. The most common types of cancer in our patient population were hematologic (28%), gastrointestinal (20%), and breast (19%). The number of massage sessions ranged from: 1 (48%) 2 (17%), 3 (9%), and ≥4 (26%). Patients equally chose foot and hand massage (13% each) while most chose combined hand and foot massage (74%). At baseline, the most severe reported symptoms were tiredness (mean=3.8 ± 2.7 SD), neuropathy (3.2 ± 3.3), wellbeing concerns (3.2 ± 2.6), and anxiety (2.3 ± 2.6). Mixed effect models showed pre-/post- symptom burden reductions in all symptoms: nausea, pain, tiredness, anxiety, depression, shortness of breath, neuropathy and wellbeing concerns (Time effect F-statistic ranging from 26-129, p-values < 0.001). The largest improvements were seen with neuropathy (1.5, ± 0.13 SE), anxiety (1.2, ± 0.10), wellbeing (1.2, ± 0.13), and tiredness (1.2, ± 0.13). There were no between-massage group differences in pre-post change for any symptom (time × massage not significant). However, the magnitude of within-massage group improvement varied across modalities, with combination, and foot only massages, showing greater improvement than hand massage. Conclusion: Based on this pilot study, MT is a feasible adjunctive treatment for patients receiving chemotherapy infusion, with no reported complications. Massage was associated with reducing symptoms such as neuropathy, anxiety, and tiredness. Further research is needed to evaluate the benefits of MT during infusion.

Source: Frontiers in Oncology

DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2026.1943581