Download Massage Benefits for Cancer

Massage Benefits for Cancer
This complementary therapy can ease uncomfortable symptoms.
Did you know there is a drug-free treatment to ease cancer patients’ nausea, pain, fatigue, anxiety, and
depression? What could do all this and still be drug-free? Massage!
The longest and largest study was recently conducted by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in
New York City. The 3 year study with 1290 patients found all the symptoms were significantly minimized –
at least temporarily.
In the study, patients were asked to rate their symptoms before, immediately after, and 48 hours after. At 48
hours, anxiety dropped 52%, pain 40%, fatigue 40%, depression 31%, and nausea 21%. Massage was as
effective, cheaper, less invasive, more comforting, and (free of side effects!) compared to standard drug
therapies.
Unfortunately, insurance does not cover massage that can run upwards of $40-$80/hour. However, the
chances of being reimbursed by insurance go up if a prescription from a doctor is submitted.
This is a summary of an article by Sara Altshul at the American Massage Therapy Association, or AMTA.