Back to search results

Massage Therapy for Anxiety During Chemotherapy

This study is looking at how different types of massage therapy can help reduce anxiety in cancer patients during chemotherapy infusions. Many people with cancer experience anxiety, especially before treatments like chemotherapy. Massage therapy has shown promise in helping with various symptoms like pain, tiredness (fatigue), and nausea (upset stomach). This study will compare different massage techniques: feet/legs (FL), head/neck/shoulder (HNS), and hands/arms (HA) massage, or no massage, to see which is most effective. You may be able to join if you are 18 or older, have had at least one chemotherapy cycle, and have a baseline anxiety score above 3. The study aims to enroll 50 participants.

Study design
This interventional study will involve 50 participants who will be randomly assigned to receive different types of massage therapy or no massage during chemotherapy sessions.
What's involved
You would receive massage therapy for 30 minutes during 5 chemotherapy sessions and provide saliva samples. Your anxiety levels and other symptoms will be assessed after each massage.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your participation and completion rates will be measured for up to 1 year.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07184294

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

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalSupportive care
City of Hope Medical Center
~50 participants
Updated 2026-09-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Best PracticeBiospecimen CollectionMassage TherapyQuestionnaire Administration

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Participation rate
Measured over Up to 1 year
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Explore related trials

Hematologic NeoplasmSolid Neoplasm

NCT07184294

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • City of Hope at Irvine Lennar

    Irvine, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Richard T Lee · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · City of Hope Medical Center

Who to contact

Richard T. Lee
[email protected]
949-671-4091
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Want this trial checked against your situation?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participant must be 18 years of age or older at time of consent
The study is open to all participants regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity
Participants should have had at least 1 cycle of the chemotherapy regimen at the time of recruitment
Participant must have a baseline anxiety score \> 3 on the Visual Analog scale (VAS)
Scheduled for at least six more infusion sessions
Participant has had complete blood count (CBC) lab work completed in the past 24 hours

Exclusion

Platelet count less than 20,000. Patients taking anticoagulants are not excluded, as the protocol for massage in infusion ensures that deep pressure massage is never performed, and patient's massage will not exceed a 3 on the Walton scale
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500
Patient has received radiation therapy to any of the targeted areas within the past 90 days
Any patient that is currently using a cold therapy device that would interfere with their ability to have a massage without removing the device (cold gloves, cold socks)
Had surgery on their foot, leg, head, neck, shoulder, hands, or arms within the past three months
Participant has rashes, open wounds, or any skin conditions that could be exacerbated by massage
Known allergies to creams, lotions, or any other substances that may be used during the massage therapy sessions
Ongoing uncontrolled active psychiatric condition that would interfere in the conduct of the study (e.g., mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis disorders, or substance use), as determined by the patient's primary cancer team
Participants with a known allergy to Bioton dual-purpose massage cream or any of its ingredients will be excluded from the study
In order to minimize undue influence and coercion, the study team will not personally solicit an employee for participation: An employee who is under the direct/indirect supervision of the principal investigator (PI)/a co-investigator/the study manager and a direct study team member
Pregnancy
Any participants with bone metastasis

What this trial measures

  • Participation rateUp to 1 year

    Will consider the study feasible if \>=70% of patients are able to complete the massage intervention at each session. Descriptive summary will be provided (including 95% confidence intervals \[CI\]).

  • Completion rateUp to 1 year

    Descriptive summary will be provided (including 95% CI).