With clear understanding of the disease certain types of massage or massage techniques are contraindicated for those with cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer. However, the beneficial techniques can provide support both emotionally and mechanically for those going through treatment providing precautions are taken for ports and locally contraindicated items. But the benefits will still out weigh the risks the immune system boost that it can provide will aid the patient in recovery on a physical and psychological level.

People who receive a diagnosis of cancer are suddenly faced with life altering choices to make and those who have put off diagnosis can veen be faced with life threatening choices. They are all of the sudden faced with a fight against the disease and a struggle simply to survive and function on a day to day basis. This can have deep impact on many levels mental, emotional, and physical. The adverse affects on the physical level can be both from the treatment or the disease itself.  The benefits of massage for people with cancer can be for the relief of pain from treatment or disease, or the treatment for depression, anxiety, which can eliminate nausea, and insomnia in most cases. Massage can relieve muscle spasm, muscle tension, and fatigue which can benefit the patient in the physical and emotional arena. Massage also improves lymph movement, better digestion, and elimination of edema helping the body to return to homeostasis quicker.

There are two major physical affects of massage, mechanical and reflexive. These two affects may occur together or separately when applied. Mechanical effects are direct physical effects of massage on the tissues that they contact. Reflex effects of massage techniques are ones that are indirect responses to touch that affect the body function and the nervous system through energy systems of the body.  Light pressure affects the senory nerve endings in the skin, applied is called superficial stroking. This superficial stroking can be felt either locally or distant portions of the body in the form of senory nerves being stimulated along plexus and chi channels of energy. 

When deeper pressure is applied to the muscles, blood and lymph vessels both reflex and mechanical affects are experienced by the stimulation of lymph flow and better circulation of blood flow. Pressure when applied to reflex points, or trigger points, can affect functions of the body that are not even at the actual point where the pressure is applied. Immediate affects on the skin are not noticeable. Friction and effluerage movements heighten blood flow and circulation to the skin and increase the activity of sweat and oil glands. Which increases the affects of hyperemia in the epidermis layer of the skin. Nutrition to the skin is improved and treatments over a period of time will impart healthy radiance to the skin. The skin will tend to become softer, more supple and of finer texture. It will also help the skin become a stronger barrier in defense of pathogens entering the body.