Massage therapy may help cancer pain

In the never-ending search for ways to relieve cancer pain, a new study has found that massage therapy may have immediate benefits on pain and mood among patients with advanced cancer. The study appears in the latest issue of the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine.

Patients who were spending their final days (weeks) in hospice care – also called end-of-life care – did find some relief from the massage. Unfortunately, the researchers pointed out that the effects are short-term though, and don’t last. However, a bit of pain relief is better than none, as this may help the patients have some quality of life and spend some special time with family and friends, or settling the final details of life.

You can read more about the study in this article, Advanced Cancer Patients Benefit From Immediate Positive Effect On Pain And Mood When Massage Therapy Used.

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Tags: chronic pain blog, pain blog, cancer pain, massage to relieve pain, massage therapy, hospice care, end of life care