Is Massage A Good Idea When You Have Had a Cancer Diagnosis?

Indeed it is… 

1. Massage can help relieve many physical and psychological symptoms including fatigue, nausea, stress, insomnia, neuralgia, headaches, depression and pain (see references below).
2. Book an appointment with a therapist who is trained in massage for cancer patients and will be able to make adjustments according to your type and stage of cancer, the treatment(s) you received/are receiving and the side-effects you may encounter. "Massage therapists working with people with cancer must be properly trained and qualified. They should have some knowledge of cancer and its treatments" (Macmillan)

 
Some people worry that massage could cause cancer cells to spread to other parts of their body. Research has not found any evidence of this (Macmillan).
 
It is not essential to have the permission of your medical team but if you are concerned about how massage may affect you, then you may wish to discuss it with them before your appointment.
 
Please note that oncology massage is not in itself a treatment for cancer, but is a complementary therapy to support any medical treatment you may be receiving. It is not suitable for areas affected by lymphoedema, you should seek a specialist in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) if you require specific treatment for this condition.
 
Research into massage and cancer:
There is no scientific evidence that massage can treat cancer. But it is commonly used to help people feel better, and to reduce some cancer symptoms and treatment side effects.

1. Massage Therapy for Symptom Control: Outcome Study at a Major Cancer Center. “In conclusion, massage therapies apparently lead to large, immediate improvements in symptoms scores in cancer patients, even those with very high baseline scores indicating substantial levels of pain, anxiety, or other symptoms. Outpatients experienced persisting benefit across the total of 48 hours studied. We plan a prospective controlled trial for longer periods of time to determine the duration of effect. Meanwhile, it is clear that massage therapy achieves major reductions in cancer patients’ pain, fatigue, nausea, anxiety and depression. Massage therapy appears to be an uncommonly non-invasive and inexpensive means of symptom control for patients with serious chronic illness. It is non-invasive, inexpensive, comforting, free of side effects and greatly appreciated by recipients. This non-randomized study suggests that it is also markedly effective.” https://www.jpsmjournal.com/article/S0885-3924%2804%2900262-3/pdf
2. The Use of Massage Therapy for Reducing Pain, Anxiety, and Depression in Oncological Palliative Care Patients: A Narrative Review of the Literature. “Summing up, it can be stated that massage therapy is to be considered a cost-efficient, non-invasive intervention positively influencing and contributing to the reduction of pain, anxiety, and depression in seriously ill cancer patients.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3168862/
3. Safety and efficacy of massage therapy for patients with cancer. “The strongest evidence for benefits of massage is for stress and anxiety reduction, although research for pain control and management of other symptoms common to patients with cancer, including pain, is promising. The oncologist should feel comfortable discussing massage therapy with patients and be able to refer patients to a qualified massage therapist as appropriate.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16062163
4. Effects of the application of therapeutic massage in children with cancer: a systematic review. “therapeutic massage improves the symptoms of children with cancer, but there is a need for more research that may support the effects attributed to it.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28614430
5. Massage therapy as a supportive care intervention for children with cancer. “Massage is an applicable, non-invasive, therapeutic modality that can be integrated safely as an adjunct intervention for managing the side effects and psychological conditions associated with anti-cancer treatments in children.” http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/crdweb/ShowRecord.asp?LinkFrom=OAI&ID=12008104200