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Massage Brings Cancer Patients Peace of Mind and Pain Relief

Massage Brings Cancer Patients Peace of Mind and Pain Relief

Massage is the manipulation, stroking, kneading, and rubbing of muscles and soft tissue in the body. It is called a complementary treatment, which means it is used in conjunction with traditional medical treatments. Massage has been used since ancient times to relieve stress and pain and to get energy flowing through the body. Like many ancient practices, medical science is proving that massage techniques can help people in a variety of ways, including those experiencing pain from cancer or cancer treatments. Rubbing and kneading of muscles and tissue can stimulate nerves, increase blood flow, and bring soothing pain relief through relaxation.

Cancer patients can experience pain as a result of the cancer itself or as a result of cancer treatments. Common traditional treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Any of these treatments can cause nerve or tissue damage, which leads to pain. In addition, cancer patients are understandably feeling high levels of stress due to anxiety about their medical condition. Muscles can tighten and cause headaches and general physical distress.

The ancient cultures may not have understood exactly how massage therapy brings pain relief, but medical science has designed sophisticated technology that can prove it causes physical responses. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used to identify and measure the effects of massage on some tissues. Massage can apply pressure to the connective tissue and relieve tension that is causing pain.  

The Cochrane Collaboration is dedicated to publishing reviews of clinical trials for better health care delivery around the world. The Cochrane Collaboration reviewed therapeutic massage as a treatment for various types of medical conditions that included back, neck, and leg symptoms and pain. In particular, therapeutic massage was studied for symptoms related to cancer in a search for the impact of muscle relaxation on pain perception. They concluded that massage brings psychological benefits that include anxiety reduction and the easing of physical pain.

Health professionals are still trying to pinpoint how massage relieves pain. It is believed that the manipulation of muscles may trigger biochemical changes in the body, blood flow responses, and muscle oxygenation. These changes may then affect brain activity that registers pain perception. In addition, massage relieves tight muscles and ligaments, which can also relieve pain. A third possibility is that massage influences activity related to the central nervous system.

Massage is effective any stage of life and can bring mental and physical relief associated with stress. However, when you are experiencing anxiety and pain due to any medical condition like mesothelioma or breast cancer, massage takes on an important role as an essential and complementary therapy. It is important to manage stress while going through cancer treatments because the physical effects of stress can further weaken your immune system. When you are going through or recovering from cancer treatments strengthening your immune is a must in the fight against cancer.

Written by Melanie Bowen  

Melanie joined the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance in 2011 as an awareness advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. You will often find me highlighting the great benefits of alternative nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness. I also assist in social media outreach in my efforts to spread awareness. To contact Melanie email melanielbowen@gmail.com.