Massage

In a study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research the Touch Research Institute found that for breast cancer patients massage therapy reduced anxiety and depression and improved immune function including increased natural killer cell number. Additionally, breast cancer patients have improved immune functions following massage therapy.

Ferrel-Torry & Glick (1003) examined the effects of therapeutic massage with cancer pain. They found that massage therapy reduced pain perception by an average of 60%, decreased anxiety by 24% and enhanced relaxation by 58%.

In a study published in Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapy the Touch Research Institute conducted a study on the effects of massage therapy for Leukemia. Twenty children with leukemia were provided with daily massages by their parents and were compared to a standard treatment control group. Following a month of massage therapy, depressed mood decreased in the children's parents, and the children's white blood cell and neutrophil counts increased.