Sturgeon, M., Wetta-Hall, R., Hart, T., Good, M., & Dakhil, S. (2009). Effects of therapeutic massage on the quality of life among patients with breast cancer during treatment. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15, 373–380.

To test hypotheses regarding the effect of massage on anxiety, pain, nausea, sleep, and quality of life (QOL).

Patients were referred by their physicians and were provided a physician order for massage. Patients completed self-administered instruments prior to massage therapy and one week after therapy. Massage treatments lasted 30 minutes and were provided during treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (RT) once per week for three weeks.

• The sample was comprised of 51 women with breast cancer.
• Mean age was 53 years.
• All patients were diagnosed with breast cancer; 27% had recurrence.
• The majority (78%) of patients were receiving only chemotherapy, and 61% were either also receiving concurrent RT or had RT planned in the future.
• The sample was 84% Caucasian, with 45% currently working full-time and 88% having at least some college education.

• Single site
• Outpatient
• Kansas

Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.

The study used a pre-/posttest design.

• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
• Visual analog scale (VAS) for pain
• Symptom Distress Scale (SDS)
• Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale (VSH)
• Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Breast (FACT-B)

STAI scores were lower after massage therapy (p = 0.03). Sleep scale items that showed improvement with massage were soundness of sleep (p = 0.05), time from settling down to sleeping (p = 0.02), and overall sleep satisfaction (p = 0.01). FACT-B scores also showed improvement in several areas after massage therapy (p < 0.05). Effect sizes in these areas were moderate (≥0.3).

Provision of massage therapy during treatment for breast cancer may reduce anxiety and improve sleep and aspects of QOL.

• The study had a small sample, with less than 100 patients.
• The study lacked a control or comparison group.
• The study lacked blinding, and the massage therapist obtained all self-reported data.
• The study had a short duration of intervention and follow-up.
• The sample was highly educated and overwhelmingly Caucasian, with 52% of patients earning more than $50,000. The findings may not be generalizable to other socioeconomic and ethnic groups.

Massage therapy may assist women undergoing breast cancer treatment to better tolerate the impact of treatment, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep during active treatment.