NCT07184294

Different Types of Massage Therapy to Reduce Anxiety During Chemotherapy Infusion in Patients With Cancer

Assessing the Feasibility of Different Types of Massage to Reduce Anxiety During Chemotherapy Infusion

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This clinical trial tests how well different types of massage therapy works to reduce anxiety during chemotherapy infusions in patients with cancer. Many cancer patients experience moderate to severe anxiety and anxiety can worsen by the anticipation of medical procedures that patients have to receive, particularly chemotherapy. Massage therapy, as a complementary treatment, has shown promise in lessening both physical and psychological symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments. Research has also shown the benefits of massage therapy in reducing pain, stress, anxiety, nausea (upset stomach), fatigue (tiredness), and depression in cancer patients. Different types of massage therapy may potentially reduce some cancer patients' symptoms, enhance their treatment, and reduce treatment related side effects.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To assess the feasibility of 30-minute massages targeting various body regions among patients with cancer receiving anticancer therapy infusion. II. Assess which type of massage is preferred by patients with cancer receiving anticancer therapy infusion. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: I. To assess the change in anxiety levels after each type of massage therapy during infusion. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE: I. To evaluate changes in other symptoms, such as: pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, and overall well-being, using data obtained from the Edmonton Symptoms Assessment scale (ESAS) after each type of massage therapy. OUTLINE: Patients receive massage therapy according to a randomized schedule to the feet/legs (FL), head/neck/shoulder (HNS), hands/arms (HA), combination of all three groups (FL, HNS, HA) or no massage therapy over 30 minutes for 5 chemotherapy sessions total on study. Patients also undergo saliva sample collection on study.

Conditions

• Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
• Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Best Practice	Receive no massage therapy
PROCEDURE	Biospecimen Collection	Undergo saliva sample collection
PROCEDURE	Massage Therapy	Receive FL therapy
PROCEDURE	Massage Therapy	Receive HNS therapy
PROCEDURE	Massage Therapy	Receive HA therapy
PROCEDURE	Massage Therapy	Receive combination FL, HNS, and HA therapy
OTHER	Questionnaire Administration	Ancillary studies

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-08-28
• Primary completion: 2026-11-28
• Completion: 2026-11-28
• First posted: 2025-09-19
• Last updated: 2025-09-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States