Cancer patients can benefit from complimentary and alternative therapies such as foot reflexology and foot massage to help manage pain, anxiety and nausea.
The American Cancer Society Journal (August 15, 1998) found that one-third of cancer patients used reflexology as an alternative therapeutic approach.
Research studies on foot reflexology and foot massage for cancer patients:
- Researchers at the School of Nursing, East Carolina University found that foot reflexology alleviates anxiety and pain for patients with breast and lung cancer. Researchers noted a significant decrease in anxiety for patients diagnosed with breast or lung cancer and a significant decrease in pain for patients with breast cancer (Stephenson, NL, Weinrich, SP and Tavakoli, AS, "The effects of foot reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients with breast and lung cancer," Oncol Nurs Forum 2000, Jan-Feb;27(1):67-72).
- Ten minute reflexology treatments can provide relief from pain, nausea and anxiety according to a report from the School of Nursing at the University of Canberra, Australia. Nurses at the school conducted an empirical study on the use of foot massage as a nursing intervention in patients hospitalised with cancer ("Review of "Foot Massage: A nursing intervention to modify the distressing symptoms of pain and nausea in patients hospitalized with cancer," Grealish, L. Lomasney, A., Whiteman, B., Cancer Nurse 2000, June;23(3):237-43).
Read more - Breast Cancer and Reflexology
