Fatigue is also decreased
with touch and massage! The
hypothesis is that this occurs
as a result of a number of
biochemical interactions that
include greater stimulation of
the Vagus nerve, which triggers
the increased release of a
compound called acetylcholine
or “ACh”, leading to a decrease
in pro-inflammatory compounds.
“Numerous studies
have reported that
massage significantly
decreases pain
related to cancer
treatment.1
There are certainly factors that
must be considered when it
comes to the application of
massage to cancer patients,
with education being a key
component of this, but the
fact that it can have such a
significant supportive role in the
treatment setting represents its
value to cancer patients. We
need more compassionate
touch within the total care of
people trying to overcome this
horrible condition.
Drew.
1. The Clinical and Biochemical Effects
of Massage Therapy During Radiation
Treatment for Breast Cancer, Judy G
Myers, PhD
2. Meta-Analysis of Massage Therapy on
Cancer Pain. Sook-Hyun Lee, MS et al.
Integrative Cancer Therapies 1–8, 2015