Record MS-N191 · Supportive care · Last literature search and appraisal: 31 October 2026
Evidence at a glance
- Evidence label: Small, older trial; signal for short-term nausea only
- Potential benefit: A 39-person randomized trial found a greater percentage improvement in nausea across five treatment periods, but not anxiety or depression.
- Risk: Massage does not replace guideline antiemetics and should be adapted to ports, skin changes, neuropathy, thrombosis and low blood counts.
- What this evidence is about: Supportive control of chemotherapy-related nausea; no tumor outcome was measured.
What was studied
Thirty-nine women receiving breast-cancer chemotherapy at one Swedish clinic were randomized to five 20-minute massage sessions or five 20-minute control visits. Participants rated nausea and anxiety before and after each session and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The percentage improvement in nausea across the five periods favored massage (P=0.025); between-group differences in anxiety and depression were not demonstrated. The abstract did not report absolute nausea scores, confidence intervals, attrition or whether the change crossed a clinically meaningful threshold.
What the evidence cannot establish
Very small, single-center and older trial with subjective outcomes; the control visit may not fully match therapeutic touch. The finding should be treated as a supportive signal, not proof that massage prevents acute or delayed emesis. Appraisal was limited to the indexed abstract. Funding, conflicts and adverse-event details were not reported there.
Symptom improvement is not evidence of tumor shrinkage, delayed recurrence or longer survival. This record does not support replacing oncology treatment.
Practical safety context
Use prescribed antiemetics as directed. Contact the care team for inability to keep fluids down, dizziness, reduced urination, blood in vomit, severe abdominal pain or fever. Avoid vigorous pressure over the abdomen or treatment sites unless the oncology team says it is appropriate.
Questions for the care team
- What antiemetic plan covers acute and delayed nausea for my regimen?
- Is massage safe with my port, platelet count and skin condition?
- How will we distinguish a brief relaxation effect from durable nausea control?
Sources checked
Source note: Publication dates refer to the indexed paper; links were checked on 31 October 2026. A registry entry verifies design or status, not efficacy. Unreported fields are not assumed to be absent.
Education only: This evidence summary is not personal medical advice. Decisions about symptoms, treatment interactions and complementary care belong with your oncology team.
