Breast cancer & massage . . .

Auton Neurosci. 2009 Oct 5;150(1-2):111-5. Epub 2009 Apr 18.

The effect of massage on immune function and stress in women with breast cancer

Billhult A, Lindholm C, Gunnarsson R, Stener-Victorin E.
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Physiotherapy, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. annika.billhult@vgregion.se

A study was done to examine the short-term effects of light pressure effleurage on patients with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Thirty women, aged 50 to 75 years were allocated to either receive massage or a control visit where they were given an equal amount of attention.

Light pressure effleurage massage decreased the deterioration of natural killer cells (NK) activity occurring during radiation therapy. Lowered heart rate and systolic blood pressure. No effects were demonstrated on cortisol and diastolic pressure.

The conclution of the study was that single full-body light pressure effleurage massage has a short-term effect on NK cell activity, systolic blood pressure and heart rate in patients with breast cancer.

The long-term clinical importance of these findings needs to be further investigated.

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Breast cancer patients benefit from massage therapy

"Breast cancer patients have improved immune and neuroendocrine functions following massage therapy."

Report by: Hernandez-Reif, Ironson, Field, Hurley, Katz, Diego, Weiss, Fletcher, Schanberg, Kuhn, Burman

Touch Research Institutes, University of Miami School of Medicine, 1601 NW 12th Avenue, Room 7037, Miami, FL 33136, USA. mhernan4@med.miami.edu

"Women with breast cancer are at risk for elevated depression, anxiety, and decreased natural killer (NK) cell number. Stress has been linked to increased tumor development by decreasing NK cell activity. The objectives of this study included examining massage therapy for women with breast cancer for:
(1) improving mood and biological measures associated with mood enhancement (serotonin, dopamine)
(2) reducing stress and stress hormone levels
(3) boosting immune measures."

"Thirty-four women (M age=53) diagnosed with Stage 1 or 2 breast cancer were randomly assigned postsurgery to a massage therapy group (to receive 30-min massages three times per week for 5 weeks) or a control group. The massage consisted of stroking, squeezing, and stretching techniques to the head, arms, legs/feet, and back. On the first and last day of the study, the women were assessed on:
(1) immediate effects measures of anxiety, depressed mood, and vigor
(2) longer term effects on depression, anxiety and hostility, functioning, body image, and avoidant versus intrusive coping style, in addition to urinary catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) and serotonin levels."

"A subset of 27 women (n=15 massage) had blood drawn to assay immune measures."

"The immediate massage therapy effects included reduced anxiety, depressed mood, and anger. The longer term massage effects included reduced depression and hostility and increased urinary dopamine, serotonin values, NK cell number, and lymphocytes."

CONCLUSIONS:

"Women with Stage 1 and 2 breast cancer may benefit from thrice-weekly massage therapy for reducing depressed mood, anxiety, and anger and for enhancing dopamine, serotonin, and NK cell number and lymphocytes."

PMID: 15256294 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]