As according to Caraceni et al, 2005), the prime important management of patients with cancer is pain management. Gecsedi and Decker (2001) had patients with cancer can experience chronic pain and that constitute between 30-50%. However, both agreed that about 90% of patients with advanced cancer will experience pain at the end of their life. This can be an unpleasant sensory feeling for the patients and also emotional exhausting experience for both the patients and their families as well (Gray 2000, and Gescsedi and Decker 2001).

Although the use of opioids (remember not to crush the pills) is well tolerated and can significantly improve the the quality of life for those cancer patients, the incorporating of massage can be a complimentary therapy that focusing on the emotional elements of pain (Portenoy and Lesage 1999). SAGA (2007) has reported that massage is one of the most commonly used complementary therapies for cancer pain relief in the UK. In the US hospitals, such therapy is also prevalent (Calenda 2006).

However, patients will have mixed feeling when receiving the massage therapy. Firstly, the benefit is debatable as there are few rigorous, randomised controlled trials on the efficacy of massage in cancer pain relief (Post-White et. al. 2003). Next, there is a common misunderstanding that massage can cause cancer to spread. To debate the later misunderstanding, Joske et al (2006) had concluded that there is no evidence showing that therapy can promote the spread of cancer, after a review was done.

There are contraindications to massage. Patients with DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) should be handled carefully because Pulmonary Emboli may develop as a result of the massage therapy (Stephenson et al 2000). Ernst et al (2006) had come up with a list of contraindications to massage therapy; that include those patients with advanced osteoporosis, bone fractures, burns, DVT, eczema, open wounds, phlebitis and skin infections. Ernst (2003) reported that no treatment is absolutely free of risk but serious adverse events are rare. It definitely has no significant side-effects like nausea and constipation.

So what does it mean to healthcare professionals, espeically nurses? Well, we shall advocates that massage therapy is considered to be safe with fewer side effects than some conventional treatments. On the other hand, we need to educate the patients that with the paucity of rigorous studies and with the limit robust evidence available, a certain degree of precautions need to be exercised when receiving such therapy.

Reference

Calenda E (2006). Massage therapy for cancer pain. Current Pain and Headache Reports. 10, 4, 270-274.

Caraceni A, Brunelli C, Martini C, Zecca E, De Conno F (2005). Cancer pain assessment in clinical trials. A review of the literature (1999-2002). Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 29, 5, 507-519

Ernst E (2003). The safety of massage. Rheumatology. 42, 9, 1101-1106.

Gescedi R, Decker G (2001). Incorporating alternative therapies into pain management: more patients are considering complementary approaches. American Journal of Nursing. 101, Suppl 4, 35-39.

Gray RA (2000). The use of massage in palliative care. Complementry Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. 6, 2, 77-82.

Joske DJL, Rao A, Kristjanson L (2006). Critical review of complementary therapies in haemato-oncology. Internal Medicine Journal. 26, 9, 579-586.

Portenoy RK, Lesage P (1999). Management of cancer pain. The Lancet. 353, 9165, 1695-1700.

Post-White J, Kinney ME, Savik K, Gau JB, Wilcox C, Lerner I (2003). Therapeutic massage and healing touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2, 4, 332-344.

SAGA (2007). Healthy Living: Complementary Therapies. Therapies Most Likely to Make it into Mainstream Treatment. Www.saga.co.uk/health/healthyliving/complementary therapies/TherapiesMostLikelyToMakeItIntoMainstreamTreatment.asp (Last accessed: January 2 2008).

Stephenson NL, Weinrich SP, Tavakoli AS (2000). The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer.Oncology Nursing Forum. 27, 1, 67-72.