Cancer changes the body in completely different ways over time. The physical and
emotional hurdles someone goes through during chemotherapy are miles apart from the challenges that tend to pop up six months, five years, or even twenty years later. That is why oncology massage is not a single style of massage. It is an evolving approach that adapts to where the person is in their cancer experience.
During Treatment: Helping the Body Find Calm
Cancer treatment places enormous stress on both the body and the mind. Appointments,
scans, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, medications and the uncertainty that often comes with a diagnosis can keep the nervous system in a constant state of alert. This is known as
the sympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the "fight or flight" response.
Massage during this phase is not about fixing anything or working deeply. Oncology
massage during treatment aims to gently encourage the opposite response of ‘fight or
flight’, the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the "rest and restore" state.
When the body feels safe enough to relax, many people notice benefits such as:
• Reduced anxiety and stress
• Improved sleep
• Less muscle tension
• A greater sense of wellbeing
• Feeling more connected with their body again
Massage during this phase is gentle, carefully adapted to the person's health, blood
counts, treatment side effects and energy levels. The goal is never to "fix" the cancer, but
to improve comfort and quality of life while the body is working incredibly hard.
Recovery: Supporting the Whole Person
Finishing active treatment is often celebrated, but many people are surprised to find that
recovery can be one of the most challenging stages. Fatigue may linger. Muscles and
joints can feel stiff. The body may feel unfamiliar after months of surgery, medications or
inactivity. Emotionally, people are often trying to adjust to a new normal while the standard expectation from friends and family is often that you are done and can finally get back to
normal.
Massage during recovery can gradually increase in duration, pressure and speed whilst
still respecting any ongoing side effects. Whole body treatment remains important. Rather
than focusing on one problem area, we consider how the entire body has been impacted
by cancer treatment. Improving general wellbeing, reducing muscular tension, encouraging movement and helping people reconnect with their body all become part of the recovery
process. Every session is guided by how the person is feeling that day, allowing the body
to rebuild at its own pace.
Rehabilitation: Restoring Function
As healing continues, rehabilitation becomes a greater focus. This stage is often more
targeted and aims to restore movement, reduce restrictions and improve function.
Depending on the individual's needs, treatment may include:
• Scar massage to improve tissue mobility
• Gentle work around radiation fibrosis and tight connective tissue
• Techniques to improve flexibility and posture
• Restoring joint range of motion
• Helping reduce protective movement patterns that develop after surgery or with
pain
The goal is not simply to make someone feel relaxed. It is to help them move with greater
freedom, reduce discomfort and regain confidence in their body. For many people,
rehabilitation allows them to return to the activities they enjoy, whether that is gardening,
swimming, lifting grandchildren or returning to exercise.
Beyond Cancer: Living Well for the Long Term
Cancer may become part of a person's history, but treatment effects can remain for many
years. It is incredibly common for long-term survivors to navigate ongoing challenges like:
• Lymphoedema
• Scar tissue restrictions
• Reduced flexibility
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Osteopenia or osteoporosis following treatment
• Ongoing fatigue
• Hormonal changes affecting muscles and joints
At this stage, massage often looks more like a regular remedial massage, but with a
therapist who understands how previous cancer treatment may continue to influence the
body. Treatments are adapted to suit these long-term changes while also addressing
everyday aches and pains that everyone experiences throughout their life. The goal is to
help people continue doing the things they love while supporting their health for years to
come.
Palliative Care: Comfort When It Matters Most
Not every cancer can be cured. For people living with advanced cancer, oncology
massage continues to have an important role. Palliative massage focuses on comfort,
dignity and quality of life. Treatments are often shorter, gentle and centred around the
person's immediate needs.
Massage may help reduce pain, ease breathlessness, improve comfort in bed or simply
provide a moment of peace and human connection during an incredibly difficult time.
Sometimes the greatest benefit is not physical at all. It is feeling cared for, listened to and
supported.
Oncology Massage: A Lifelong Approach
Cancer is not a single event. It is an experience that continues to influence the body long
after treatment has finished. That is why oncology massage is so much more than a gentle
massage during chemotherapy. It is an adaptable approach that supports people through
treatment, recovery, rehabilitation, long-term survivorship and, when needed, palliative
care.
At every stage, the treatment changes because the person changes. The aim is always
the same: to provide safe, evidence-informed massage that improves comfort, function
and quality of life, wherever someone is in their cancer experience.
About the Author
Amy Tyler is an award-winning Remedial Massage Therapist, educator and the founder of
Institute of Oncology Massage. With more than 25 years of clinical experience, she has
spent the past 19 years specialising in the care of people affected by cancer, working in
private practice, hospital cancer centres and alongside multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Amy is passionate about improving access to safe, evidence-informed massage for people
living with and beyond cancer. Through Institute of Oncology Massage, she educates
Remedial Massage Therapists and Myotherapists across Australia to confidently adapt
their treatments for every stage of the cancer journey, from diagnosis and active treatment through to recovery, rehabilitation, survivorship and palliative care.
Recognised as the 2020 Natural Medicine Awards Practitioner of the Year, Amy is
respected for translating complex clinical concepts into practical, easy-to-understand
education that empowers both therapists and patients. Her mission is simple: to ensure
that every person with a history of cancer has access to a massage therapist who
understands the unique changes cancer and its treatment can have on the body.
Connect with Amy Tyler and the Institute of Oncology Massage — Explore Her Work and Education Platforms
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