Character
Massage adapted for people with cancer or a history of cancer treatment, with comfort and supportive care as its goals. It requires additional training and individual assessment. [1]
History & heritage
Contemporary professional organizations describe an approach that adapts existing methods to cancer and treatment effects. This entry assigns no single founder or ancient origin and does not treat it as one fixed technique. [1]
Techniques
Contact areas, pressure and pacing are adjusted to treatment, positioning tolerance and skin condition. Planning should involve the care team; lymphoedema needs separate assessment for specialized drainage. [1] [2]
Discuss massage with the cancer doctor or specialist nurse first. People with cancer should avoid very deep massage. Do not massage areas currently receiving radiotherapy, or broken, bleeding or bruised skin. Avoid general massage on arms or legs swollen by lymphoedema; seek assessment by a lymphoedema specialist. [2]
Evidence and limitations
Research mainly concerns relaxation and symptom experience. Some findings are promising, but small samples and study limitations leave uncertainty. Massage does not treat cancer or replace cancer treatment. [2]
A recommendation for a particular care setting
The 2022 Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO guideline, drawing on research published from 1990 through 2021, says massage may be recommended for adults experiencing pain during palliative or hospice care. It describes an intermediate level of evidence and a moderate-strength recommendation. This concerns pain support in that setting; it is not a recommendation for every cancer symptom or evidence that massage treats the cancer itself. [3]
Sources
Professional definitions and patient information
The Society for Oncology Massage explains how the practice is adapted; Cancer Research UK provides patient information and discusses research limitations. When checked on 19 October 2026, the latter page explicitly said it was due for review, with a last-review date of 6 September 2022 and a next-review date of 6 September 2025. These source roles and dates should remain visible alongside the evidence discussion. [1] [2]
History & heritage · Evidence and limitations · Publication date, search date and this encyclopedia
- Society for Oncology Massage — Oncology Massage 101 ↗
- Cancer Research UK — Massage ↗
- Mao et al. — SIO–ASCO pain-management guideline ↗
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