Massage Therapy for Anxiety During Chemotherapy in Cancer

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Low platelet count, Low ANC, Recent radiation, Recent surgery, Skin conditions, Allergies, Psychiatric condition, Pregnancy, Bone metastasis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 5 sessions

50 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how different types of massage therapy can reduce anxiety during chemotherapy sessions for cancer patients. Many undergoing chemotherapy experience anxiety, which can complicate the treatment process. Massage therapy might ease symptoms like pain, stress, and nausea, making chemotherapy more manageable. The trial will test various massage techniques to determine which works best. It suits those who have completed at least one round of chemotherapy and experience anxiety during treatment sessions. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore alternative therapies that could enhance the chemotherapy experience.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on massage therapy, so it's best to discuss your medications with the study team or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that massage therapy is safe for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy?

Research has shown that massage therapy is generally safe for people with cancer. Studies have found that it can improve mood and reduce symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and pain. A review of 16 studies found that massage is safe and effective for reducing pain and fatigue. These findings suggest that massage therapy is well-tolerated and can alleviate some of the stress and discomfort associated with cancer treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about using massage therapy for anxiety during chemotherapy because it offers a non-invasive, drug-free approach to alleviating stress. Unlike standard treatments for anxiety, which often involve medications with potential side effects, massage therapy provides a natural alternative that can enhance relaxation and well-being. Additionally, massage therapy is administered directly during chemotherapy sessions, offering immediate comfort and potentially improving the overall treatment experience for patients. By incorporating physical touch, it taps into the body's natural relaxation response, potentially leading to reduced anxiety and improved mental health outcomes.

What evidence suggests that massage therapy is effective for reducing anxiety during chemotherapy?

Research has shown that massage therapy can greatly reduce anxiety in cancer patients. For example, patients who received only hand massages during chemotherapy felt 19.5% less anxious. In this trial, participants will be randomized to receive massage therapy to the face/legs (FL), head/neck/shoulders (HNS), hands/arms (HA), a combination of all three areas, or no massage therapy. Other studies have found that massage therapy not only lowers anxiety but also helps with pain and improves the quality of life for cancer patients. These benefits make it a promising additional treatment during chemotherapy sessions. Overall, massage therapy has shown positive effects in easing both the physical and emotional stress of cancer treatment. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Richard T Lee

Principal Investigator

City of Hope Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy who experience moderate to severe anxiety. It aims to see if massage therapy can help reduce their anxiety during treatment sessions.

Inclusion Criteria

Participant must have a baseline anxiety score > 3 on the Visual Analog scale (VAS)

Participant has had complete blood count (CBC) lab work completed in the past 24 hours

I have at least six more scheduled infusion sessions.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnancy

In order to minimize undue influence and coercion, the study team will not personally solicit an employee for participation: An employee who is under the direct/indirect supervision of the principal investigator (PI)/a co-investigator/the study manager and a direct study team member

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive massage therapy according to a randomized schedule during 5 chemotherapy sessions

5 sessions

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in anxiety levels and other symptoms using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System and salivary amylase

Up to 1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Massage Therapy

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of different types of massage therapy in alleviating anxiety during chemotherapy infusions, as a complementary approach alongside standard care practices.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Supportive Care (FL, HNS, HA, combination, no massage) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients receive massage therapy according to a randomized schedule to the FL, HNS, hands/arms (HA), combination of all three groups (FL, HNS, HA) or no massage therapy over 30 minutes over 5 chemotherapy sessions total on study. Patients also undergo saliva sample collection on study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

City of Hope Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

614

Recruited

1,924,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0897189713000700

Effects of back massage on chemotherapy-related fatigue ... In our study, it was determined that mean anxiety scores decreased in the intervention group patients after chemotherapy. The level of fatigue in the ...

2. lidsen.com lidsen.com/journals/icm/icm-05-01-008/obm.icm.2001008.pdf

Anxiety Improvement after Oncology Massage Hand-only massage during chemotherapy reduced anxiety scores by 19.5% [20]. ... The massage therapy pressure scale-medical conditions and massage ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11022679/

The Effects of Massage Therapy in Decreasing Pain and ... Prior massage therapy research showed a reduction in pain and anxiety following massage therapy in patients with cancer; indeed, massage was ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07184294

Different Types of Massage Therapy to Reduce Anxiety ... This clinical trial tests how well different types of massage therapy works to reduce anxiety during chemotherapy infusions in patients with ...

5. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocn.17547

Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for Cancer Pain, Quality ... This paper demonstrates that massage therapy is beneficial to patients with cancer in improving pain, quality of life and anxiety.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7523760/

A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis - PMC Studies have shown that massage therapy can be effective in easing mood and reducing cancer-related symptoms, including depression, anxiety pain ...

7. ons.org ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/07-2017/massage-has-therapeutic-value-patients-cancer

Massage Has Therapeutic Value for Patients With Cancer And a meta-analysis that included 16 trials showed that massage is safe in patients with cancer and useful in reducing pain, fatigue, and ...

8. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2020/09250/effectiveness_and_safety_of_massage_in_the.26.aspx

Effectiveness and safety of massage in the treatment of... Studies have shown that massage therapy can be effective in easing mood and reducing cancer-related symptoms, including depression, anxiety pain ...

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9713953/

The effects of oncology massage on symptom self-report ... Studies show that massage can help cancer patients improve mood and decrease anxiety, depression, and pain. Caregivers receiving massage have also demonstrated ...