How touch therapies make a difference to cancer patients

For decades the spa world has faced enormous challenges when it comes to supporting cancer patients, but through the work of industry leaders across the realms of practitioner training, product development and insurance, as well as pioneering medical professionals, the opportunity to offer touch therapies for cancer patients has, in recent years, been made readily available.

There are two core aspects as to why touch therapies are so important for cancer patients who wish to access them:

1. Because it is ethically and legally imperative that people are not excluded from spa treatments because of a cancer diagnosis.
2. Because touch therapies, including massage, are proven to help support the wellbeing of cancer patients.

However, we are mindful that the benefits of touch therapies for cancer patients are often unclear, with some disparate information and a lack of clarity. In part, this is because everyone experiences cancer, its treatment and its consequences differently, and therefore the benefits of touch therapies can also vary. 

In this article we aim to bring that information together from a series of reliable resources and experts, to explore at least some of the anecdotal and proven benefits of touch treatments following a cancer diagnosis.

The benefits of touch therapies for cancer patients

SATCC Trustee and CEO of virtual cancer survivorship clinic, Perci Health, Kelly McCabe, has over 15 years of oncology care and has spent her career to date solving the unmet needs of people living with cancer. She says:

“People living with cancer often contend with long-term effects such as fear of recurrence, anxiety, chronic pain, fatigue, and neuropathy conditions that can be significantly alleviated through appropriate touch therapies.” 

It is a succinct insight into why we do what we do at the SATCC, and why we’re so passionate about making touch treatments for cancer more readily available. While medicine treats the disease, it is left to others to treat the person, and this is where touch therapies can make a profound difference, helping someone to live each day a little better and to feel more human.

Marc Innes, Founder of the School of Natural Therapies and one of the SATCC’s lifestyle experts, has written extensively on the subject. He says:

“Massage has been proven to offer a world of wellbeing benefits from reducing pain perception to improved mental wellbeing, which is especially important for anyone handling a cancer diagnosis.”

These are just some of the ways in which touch treatments make a difference in supporting cancer patients:

Reducing pain perception 

Pain can be a big challenge when it comes to cancer treatment, coming in varying forms and degrees, and presenting a lot of difficulty when it comes to finding the right approach for pain  management.

It’s now quite well documented that touch therapies, including light massage can be helpful for reducing pain perception in cancer patients. For example, one research paper published by the National Library of Medicine wrote: “The longer term massage effects included reduced depression and hostility and increased urinary dopamine, serotonin values, NK cell number, and lymphocytes.”

Another paper from 2023 records: “Massage therapy can be used as a complementary alternative therapy to relieve cancer pain in patients with haematological malignancies, breast cancer, and cancers of the digestive system. It is suggested that chemotherapy patients use foot reflexology, and perioperative period patients use hand acupressure. A massage duration of 10 to 30 minutes and a program length of ≥1 week is recommended to achieve better effects.”

Reconnecting with your sense of self 

Anecdotally, one of the most prevalent pieces of feedback that we get from anyone who has had a touch treatment after cancer and cancer treatment, is the sense of reconnection with their own body and self. 

Cancer can have a profound impact on how a person feels about themselves and their personal identity. That experience is often exacerbated by cancer treatment, which may involve therapies and surgeries that change their body’s appearance and how it feels. 

Touch therapies offer a space in which people feel accepted, and they experience nurturing touch with kindness and compassion. That, in itself, can be extremely powerful.

Fatigue and anxiety

Fatigue resulting both from cancer, cancer treatment, and the stress of the entire experience are common issues amongst cancer patients. However, there is a wealth of research showing that massage and other holistic therapies can be helpful.

The Global Wellness Institute collated numerous studies on the subject. For example, Oxford Academic’s Pain Medicine publication writes: “Massage therapy appears to be promising for reducing pain intensity/severity, fatigue, and anxiety in cancer populations compared to the active comparators evaluated in this systematic review.” 

Equally, a randomised trial from Emory University School of Medicine, studying breast cancer survivors that suffered cancer-related fatigue (CRF) found that six weeks of Swedish massage treatment (SMT): “produced clinically significant relief of CRF. This finding suggests that 6 weeks of a safe, widely accepted manual intervention causes a significant reduction in fatigue, a debilitating sequela for cancer survivors.”  

Feel good factor

The general feel-good-factor nature of a massage or touch therapy also shouldn’t be ignored. Massage in a spa environment is, principally about enjoying our wellbeing, and whether you have cancer or not doesn’t change that objective. 

Marc Innes says: “When our tactile receptors are activated, a neurological signal is sent to the nerves of the spine initially – and then to the brain, so that we can interpret feelings such as heat. In more recent times, a different type of sensory neuron called a C-afferent receptor has been discovered. C-afferent receptors are emotional. Researchers found that these receptors are linked to areas of our brain, called the Insular Cortex. As well as helping us maintain equilibrium, what makes these c-afferent vessels even more interesting, is that they seem to sense slower touch; for example, stroking and gentle hugging. What we also know is that c-afferent receptors can’t pinpoint the exact area of the skin that is being touched, stroked or stimulated – this is in contrast to other types of skin receptors, for example those sensory neurons that perceive heat or cold. We could perhaps equate the touch sensed by c-afferent vessels akin to an all over hug, which we know always feels good!”

Why can’t cancer patients just have a regular massage?

With all of that good stuff in mind, it’s reasonable to ask – why can’t cancer patients just have a regular massage? As a therapist or wellbeing practitioner, you will no doubt already have some of the answers to this, but a lot of the information gets misconstrued. 

While the reasons are complex and we are continuing to understand the body in greater detail all the time, there are some fundamental and practical reasons why dedicated knowledge to provide touch treatments for anyone who’s had a cancer diagnosis are important.

Skin sensitivity 

One of the most widely understood challenges that can result from cancer is sensitive skin. This is more often than not a side effect of cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and cancer targeted drugs, which can cause skin to be much more reactive to products, and to become very dry, sore and cracked. 

For these reasons it’s important that therapists have a clear understanding of which products and movements are suitable for their clients, depending on their different stages and types of treatment and cancer, so as not to cause additional discomfort. 

Physical sensitivity and bruising 

Physical sensitivity can result from the cancer itself – perhaps its location or type – as well as from surgical scars or treatment. Also, some cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy, can increase your risk of bleeding and bruising.

These factors mean that it’s important to know how to adapt touch treatments for the individual, adjusting movements and pressure, as well as asking appropriate questions in a suitable manner. It’s important to remember that cancer patients and their experience with cancer is always unique, so knowing how to adapt touch therapies for their needs means having the skills to act with a level of autonomy – there’s no one-size-fits-all.

Infection risk 

Certain cancer treatments, notably immunotherapy or chemotherapy, usually places people at high risk of infection. If they do contract an infection it can also cause serious complications, making them much more unwell than a healthy individual, and possibly delaying their cancer treatment, which can be devastating. Infection is one of the most common complications of cancer treatment because the therapies weaken the immune system.

For that reason, while we are always careful as therapists when it comes to mitigating the risk of infections and ensuring hygiene standards, there are additional and specific steps that might need to be taken when treating someone with cancer. 

Discomfort

Discomfort can come in many forms, both physical and emotional. Lots of people feel very self-conscious following cancer and cancer treatment, particularly if they feel their body and skin has changed as a result. Equally, it’s important for therapists to feel comfortable and confident when treating anyone, especially a vulnerable client.

Part of the reason specialist training is important for treating cancer patients, is because it’s essential that you feel comfortable in your knowledge and ability to provide excellent care. That might mean being prepared and understanding if a client has a mastectomy scar from breast cancer or a stoma from bowel cancer, knowing how to work around any sensitive areas, and making sure that your client has an experience that makes them feel that little bit better.

Insurance

On a practical note, without dedicated training from an accredited provider, therapists and their workplace will find that they are not able to get insurance to treat anyone who’s had a cancer diagnosis. In addition, any insurance that is in place may be invalid if anything were to happen as a result of treatment. 

SATCC Approved Training Providers have all been selected and recognised for the quality of their training, offering courses that are recognised by dedicated insurers. As a result, therapists and their employers can feel confident in their work and that they themselves are protected, as well as their clients.

Over and beyond the science, the fundamental benefit of touch therapies for anyone, but especially for cancer patients, is that they help to restore and support the individual person rather than approaching them as a patient. 

Spa treatments are always about much more than the physical benefits that they offer – they are restorative, nurturing, yes, they can be good for muscle aches, relieving tension, but bring it all together and it’s about recognising the human being that comes into the room, in need of care and empathy. 

By having the skills to treat someone who has had a cancer diagnosis, the benefit that we offer as therapists is that we are able to continue to treat and respect them as a person first and foremost, looking beyond the diagnosis but not ignoring it, to make sure they are treated with dignity and respect, just like anyone else. 

That is not something you can do by pretending your client doesn’t have cancer; it is something you can only do by knowing they have cancer, acknowledging it, respecting it and arming yourself with the skills to handle it professionally. 

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