B O D Y T A L K
Massage Reduces
Cancer-Related Fatigue
A recent study published in the
medical journal Cancer found that
Swedish massage therapy, delivered
over the course of six weeks to breast
cancer patients, provided a significant
reduction in their cancer-related fatigue
(CRF). CRF is a persistent, exhausting
condition affecting approximately
one-third of cancer survivors.
The study, conducted by researchers
at Emory University in Atlanta, enrolled
66 female stage 0–III posttreatment
breast cancer survivors who had
received surgery and radiation and/or
chemotherapy/chemoprevention. The
participants, who were unfamiliar with
massage therapy, were given a weekly
45-minute Swedish massage by licensed
massage therapists over the course of
six weeks.
The recipients reported they
experienced "clinically meaningful"
improvement in their CRF as a result
of the massage therapy. While still
in early-trial phase, this research
has significant implications for
cancer patients going forward.
For more information, read the
full study at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/29044466.
Body Sense 3
