Can Massages Spread

Lymphoma?
Published: February 20, 2018

There’s a lot of information on the Internet

about cancer and unfortunately, that includes
fiction as well as fact. It’s important to be
aware which cancer myths are just that and
which are worth concern.

One myth suggests that full body massages

can spread lymphoma because the therapy
stimulates your lymphatic system — tissues
and organs (including the thymus, spleen,
bone marrow, lymphatics and lymph nodes)
that produce white blood cells to fight
infections and various diseases.

Massage is a type of therapeutic body

treatment that involves applying pressure and
manually manipulating muscles and soft
tissue. Some common uses of massage
include: relaxation, pain relief (including back
pain and headaches), and relief from stress,
muscle tension and muscle soreness. Some
theories speculate that mechanisms of
massage can increase blood circulation and
lymphatic flow – and while this perceived
benefit itself is debated, it may explain the
origin of the misguided notion that massage
“spreads” lymphoma.

So, are massages harmful for someone

undergoing cancer treatment? Is it really
possible they could spread lymphoma? The
simple answer: No.

“There is absolutely no evidence that

lymphoma can be spread by massage,”
says Ann LaCasce, MD, MMSc, a physician in
the Adult Lymphoma Program at Dana-Farber
and director of the Dana-Farber/Partners
CancerCare Fellowship Program in
Hematology/Medical Oncology. “We do not
think of lymphoma as a disease that
metastasizes – rather, it is often a systemic
disease that travels through the lymphatics
and blood and can land in any area in the
body. Furthermore, manipulating tissue does
not causes tumor cells to move.”

Learn More:

What Are the Different Stages of

Lymphoma?
Apricot Seeds and Cancer: Debunking
the Myth

Massage is not only non-harmful to lymphoma

patients, it’s actually beneficial for most cancer
patients and can be an important part of a
patient’s palliative care – a specialized form of
medicine focused on treating the whole patient
– at any point of treatment – during a serious
illness and includes symptom and pain
management.

Oncology massage therapists are trained to

work specifically with cancer patients and
make necessary adjustments to ensure safe
and effective treatment. “There are many
metabolic processes and physical activities,
such as exercise, that increase circulation
more than a massage ever would, and there
have been strong associations between
exercise and cancer survival,” says Maria
“Bambi” Mathay, LMT, an oncology massage
therapist and practicing Reiki master who
treats patients at Dana-Farber’s Zakim Center
for Integrative Therapies and Health Living.
“The truth of the matter is that there is more
research showing the clinical benefits of
massage and in my 15 years treating patients I
have seen those benefits – including
decreased pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue,
insomnia and nausea – first hand.”

There is no risk or strong association between

massages and the spread of cancer, so
lymphoma patients can enjoy this therapy
worry-free.

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Know for 2019
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Precursor Conditions and Multiple Myeloma

1 thought on “Can Massages

Spread Lymphoma?”
1. Judith Bruguiere

February 22, 2018 at 11:19 pm

I have read that massage is not safe if
you have had multiple melanomas
excised.

Comments are closed.

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