Introduction:
Patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer are burdened by symptoms impacting their physical, emotional, psychological and mental wellbeing. Common physical burdens include pain, CIPN, limited ROM and psychological burdens of anxiety and depression. Patients are increasingly seeking integrative services to support them through allopathic cancer treatment. This is a retrospective study evaluating the perceived benefit of oncology massage in improving treatment related symptoms for breast cancer patients.
Methods:
This was a retrospective quantitative study of 228 women with breast cancer that received oncology massage therapy at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse between June 2018 and December 2020. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) was collected before treatment to assess the broad range of symptoms experienced. The Measure Your Concerns & Wellbeing (MYCaW) was completed pre and post massage to determine any perceived effects.
Results:
The most common symptoms were sleep disturbance, fatigue, numbness/tingling, hot flushes and reduced wellbeing. MYCaW subcategory with the highest prevalence were aches and pains, followed by lymphoedema, swelling, stiffness, impaired range of movement, sleep disturbance. Benefit in post scores suggests improvement in most symptoms from oncology massage.
Conclusions:
Results from this study support the ongoing integration of oncology massage into standard supportive care for breast cancer patients, and informs future research into long term potential benefit of oncology massage throughout breast cancer treatment.