Massage

Massage is a complementary therapy where a trained therapist applies pressure and movement to relieve a range of physical and psychological issues. 

What is massage?

Using their hands, fingers and arms, the therapist can find tight or knotty muscles, for example, and apply skilled strokes to release them.  Massage therapy can be applied to the whole body or just to specific areas, like the back, neck or limbs. It is fantastic for helping to relieve pain, reduce stress, promote relaxation and improve overall well-being. Massage is a versatile therapy that can be a valuable addition to a holistic approach to health and wellness.

How can massage help during cancer treatment?

Massage can provide a gentle, caring touch that will help you relax and find relief from some of the physical and emotional challenges of your illness and treatment. Some cancer treatments can feel overwhelming and the soothing effects of massage help to calm the nervous system, lower anxiety levels and improve your outlook. This relaxation can also improve sleep quality, which is often disrupted during treatment.

Massage may also help with pain management. It stimulates your circulation, releasing muscle tightness and triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Many patients report that massage does reduce their pain and helps with symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.  In addition, massage can stimulate lymphatic flow, which is helpful if you have experienced swelling (lymphedema) due to surgery or radiotherapy. It can also help reduce the formation of scar tissue following injury or surgery and help in muscle recovery.  

On an emotional level, massage offers a sense of caring and connection. The human touch involved can be deeply comforting, helping patients feel less isolated. In short, massage can be a gentle, effective way to nurture both physical comfort and emotional wellbeing, a fantastic complementary therapy to support a cancer journey.

Can I have a massage if I am having treatment for cancer?

Yes, but there are some things that you and your massage therapist will need to be aware of first. All our massage therapists are trained in oncology massage so they understand the specific needs and precautions they will need to apply.

Before you can have a massage, they will run through a health check with you to understand where you are in your treatment and which areas of your body may be affected. It’s important, for example, that parts of the body being treated with radiotherapy should not be massaged. If you have recently had surgery on your underarm lymph nodes, it is advised not to have any deep tissue massages around that area. Massage is not a treatment for cancer in itself but makes a great complementary therapy alongside conventional medical treatments.

What should I know before my first massage appointment? 

If you’ve never had a massage before, it’s perfectly normal to feel a little unsure about what to expect. Just remember that our trained therapists are there to help you relax and ensure you leave feeling better than when you arrived. If you have not already completed the health check with your therapist, please ensure you arrive in good time to do that first.  

It’s advisable to wear loose, comfortable clothing. Depending on whether you are having a whole-body massage or just a targeted one, you will be asked to undress appropriately and to your comfort level. You will always be properly covered with a towel during your treatment. During the massage, don’t hesitate to speak up if the pressure feels too firm or too light; your therapist will want you to be comfortable with the experience. Finally, you will be encouraged to drink plenty of water after your treatment to help replace any fluids that have been stimulated and aid in the flushing out of toxins released during treatment– which may mean you need to pop to the loo a bit more frequently than usual, but that’s quite common. 

Massage is a one-to-one treatment that needs to take place in person so you will need to travel to one of our centres where it is offered.  

How do I refer myself?

If you are new to Wessex Cancer Support and have not already had a wellbeing assessment with one of our friendly team, we ask that you contact us to make a referral for an appointment. Our team will provide you with further information and availability of any activities you both decide on. As a new client, we’ll add you to our email newsletter list so you can keep an eye on forthcoming activities, too.

This service is delivered at

Explore other ways we support you