ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To examine the short-term effects of light pressure effleurage on circulating lymphocytes by studying the number and activity of peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells in patients with breast cancer compared to a control group. Furthermore, the effect of light pressure effleurage on salivary cortisol levels, heart rate and blood pressure was studied. DESIGN: Single centre, prospective, randomized and controlled study. METHODS: Thirty women, aged 50 to 75 years (mean 61 sd=7.2) with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy in a hospital in southwestern Sweden were enrolled in the study. They were allocated to either receive massage in the form of a full-body light pressure effleurage treatment, or a control visit where they were given an equal amount of attention. Blood samples, saliva, notation of heart rate and blood pressure were collected before and after massage/control visit. Differences in change over time between groups were analyzed by Student's t-test. RESULTS: Light pressure effleurage massage decreased the deterioration of NK cell activity occurring during radiation therapy. Furthermore it lowered heart rate and systolic blood pressure. No effects were demonstrated on cortisol and diastolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A single full-body light pressure effleurage massage has a short-term effect on NK cell activity, systolic blood pressure and heart rate in patients with breast cancer. However, the long-term clinical importance of these findings needs to be further investigated.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Killer Cells, Natural/immunology , Lymphocytes/immunology , Massage/methods , Stress, Psychological/rehabilitation , Aged , Blood Pressure/physiology , Breast Neoplasms/complications , Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Breast Neoplasms/rehabilitation , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of repeated effleurage massage treatments compared with a visit control group on circulating lymphocytes by studying the number and activity of peripheral blood NK cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in women with breast cancer. Furthermore, the effect of repeated effleurage massage treatments on the levels of cortisol in saliva and oxytocin in plasma as well as degree anxiety, depression and quality of life was studied. DESIGN: A single centre, prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTINGS/LOCATION: The study was conducted in a radiation department, in a hospital in south-western Sweden. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two women (mean age=62) with breast cancer undergoing radiation were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were randomly assigned to effleurage massage therapy (20 min of effleurage on ten occasions) or to control visits (ten 20-minute visits). OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood samples were collected before the first and last massage/control visit for analysis of peripheral blood NK, T cells and oxytocin. Saliva was analysed for cortisol. In addition, the patients completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Life Satisfaction Questionnaire and Spielbergers State Trait Anxiety Inventory prior to the first and last massage/control visit. RESULTS: Effleurage massage treatment had no significant effect on the number, frequencies or activation state of NK cells or CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, no significant changes between groups were detected on cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, anxiety, depression or quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Significant effect of effleurage massage on cellular immunity, cortisol, oxytocin, anxiety, depression or quality of life could not be demonstrated in this study. Several possible explanations to the results of this study are discussed.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/immunology , Carcinoma/immunology , Endocrine System/immunology , Immunity, Cellular/immunology , Massage/methods , Stress, Psychological/therapy , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Anxiety Disorders/immunology , Anxiety Disorders/metabolism , Anxiety Disorders/therapy , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes , Carcinoma/psychology , Depressive Disorder/immunology , Depressive Disorder/metabolism , Depressive Disorder/therapy , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/analysis , Hydrocortisone/metabolism , Killer Cells, Natural , Middle Aged , Mood Disorders/immunology , Mood Disorders/metabolism , Mood Disorders/therapy , Oxytocin/blood , Patient Satisfaction , Prospective Studies , Psychological Tests , Quality of Health Care , Quality of Life , Stress, Psychological/etiology , Stress, Psychological/immunology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The experience of massage in an oncology ward was the focus of this study. Eight female cancer patients were given massage for 10 consecutive days and then interviewed using phenomenology as a theoretical framework. The essential meaning of getting massage as part of the daily care for female cancer patients was described as getting a meaningful relief from suffering. The findings identified five themes: the relief is meaningful because it offers the patient an experience of being "special." The massage contributes to the development of a positive relationship with the personnel, to feeling strong, and to a balance between autonomy and dependence. The massage also brings about a meaningful relief from suffering because it just "feels good." The findings of this study can be of use to health care professionals as it shows that the relatively short period of massage can result in physical and emotional benefits for cancer patients.
