Can massage and reflexology help clients with bladder cancer?

Patients who have a cystectomy following bladder cancer may benefit from massage and reflexology to reduce pain and improve wellbieng, according to a pilot.

The pilot sevice provided 38 cystectompy patients with one hour of massage, reflexology of a combination the day after they had surgery and this was followed by another one hour treatment two days later.

Self-reported concerns, wellbeing and pain were measure before and imediately after each treatment and in the evening of each therapy day.  Common concerns among patients included pain at the wound site, anxiety, nausea and bloating.

Self-reported concerns, wellbing and pain were significantly reduced after treatments.  These results were maintained on the evening of the day one but not on day three.

Reference

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1744388118304316?via%253Dihub=

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