# Massages can spread cancer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969 "2008-05-29T01:15:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969/1 "2008-05-29T01:15:05Z")
This might be more IMHO, but I’ll start it here and let a mod move it if necessary. I had a spa day last week, as a treat to myself, and when Ivylad booked the appointment, he told them I had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. They said that they couldn’t give me a massage, since it could spread the cancer. :dubious: Then, when I went for my facial and mani and pedi, I told the technician again that I had been recently diagnosed, and she said massaging opens up the lymphatic system, and they don’t want to do that if you’re sick. Oookay. I still had fun, but I’ve more than one person since tell me massaging is not good for people with cancer. So, Dopers, is this up there with ear-candling and pads to detox your feet, or is there some truth to this? ---
**Author:** ![Lama\_Pacos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Lama\_Pacos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lama_Pacos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969/2 "2008-05-29T01:30:32Z")
Yeah, I’m glad you posted this thread, because I was extremely :dubious: when you mentioned this in the other thread but was too lazy to actually start one myself. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969/3 "2008-05-29T01:31:01Z")
From three cancer websites: > [@](#): > > Can providing massage therapy to individuals who have active cancer or who are terminally ill promote the spread of cancer? > > Some lymphatic massage therapists have a policy of not providing therapy to individuals with active or terminal cancer, believing that such therapy might promote the spread of cancer through the lymphatic system. As a result, consumers with lymphedema - sometimes in great pain and distress - report having to go to several therapists before finding a therapist who is willing to assist them. > > Similar cautions also also exist with the use of extremity pumps. > > In the Professional Supportive care/Screening/Prevention Information on Lymphedema produced by the U.S. National Cancer Institute in November 2000, it notes under Treatment, When using compression pumps and other techniques, caution should be taken if there is potential for a tumour to be mobilized into venous or lymphatic channels. > > There appears to be little concrete scientific evidence which suggest massage therapy promotes the spread of cancer. Many studies seem to indicate that massage therapy can potentially enhance the health, sense of well-being and quality of life of individuals with cancer. [http://www.lymphovenous-canada.ca/massagewitheld.htm](http://www.lymphovenous-canada.ca/massagewitheld.htm) > [@](#): > > Some people worry that massage can spread cancer cells throughout the body via the lymphatic system (a part of the body’s immune system). However, it is well documented that comfort-oriented massage does not contribute to the spread of cancer. Researchers have shown that the development and spread of cancer is as a result of genetic mutations (changes to a cell’s DNA) and other processes in the body. > > The lymphatic system is a complex network of vessels, organs and nodes. It transports and filters waste products, returns excess protein to the circulatory system (heart and blood vessels), and works with the immune system. > > Lymphatic circulation occurs naturally due to skeletal muscles contracting, which compresses lymph vessels and forces the movement of lymph. Gentle massage does not increase lymphatic circulation any more than activities such as exercising, shopping or gardening. > > Although cancer may metastasise (spread) into the lymphatic system via the lymph nodes, or it sometimes starts in the lymphatic system itself, the circulation of lymph – from massage or other movement – does not cause cancer to spread. [http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=2407](http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=2407) > [@](#): > > Some people are concerned that the increased circulation promoted by massage might help spread the cancer. However, there is little evidence for this and many of the most prominent medical centers for cancer treatment support massage for their patients. General guidelines include not doing any deep work in known or suspected cancer areas, avoiding deep pressure for leukemia or if platelet counts are low, and being very careful in cases of bone metastases or osteoporosis. [http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/massage.html](http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/massage.html) ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969/4 "2008-05-29T01:32:57Z")
Thanks for the links! I’ll e-mail them to the spa, although I doubt they’ll change their mind. ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/massages-can-spread-cancer/450969/5 "2008-05-30T02:05:36Z")
My massage therapist declines to do massage on cancer patients as well, as does one of her colleagues I went to once. She mentions the concern about the lymph system that is addressed above. I think she also told me that even if she works very, very lightly, there is too much of a risk of making her client very uncomfortable in the following days…maybe she is talking about chemo patients bruising more easily or something, I’m not sure. More thananything, I got the impression that she was afraid a cancer patient would be in more pain after a massage than before. I hope you find someone to do your massage. You might contact your hospital and see if they have massage therapists on staff who would do it. I know my local hospital does.