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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- For many, a massage is a way to relax and feel better. New research finds this is especially true for those in the advanced stages of cancer.
Pain and depressed mood are common problems for patients with advanced cancer. Drug therapies can help, but they often have side effects that can make the patient even more miserable. Study authors from the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine studied if massage would be beneficial to advanced cancer patients.
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For the study, 380 advanced cancer patients at 15 U.S. hospices were treated to either massage or simple touch. The patients were assessed on their mood and pain level after the treatment. Study authors say improvement in pain and mood immediately following treatment was greater with massage than with simple touch.
When patients near the end of life, the goals of the medical care change from trying to cure disease to making the patient as comfortable as possible, Jean S. Kutner, MD, MSPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine was quoted as saying. This study is important because it shows massage is a safe and effective way to provide immediate relief to patients with advanced cancer.
Study authors point out that while massage does have immediate benefits, the results do not last over time. They say this shows the need to continue to search for effective strategies to manage pain at the end of life.
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2008;
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