What are these therapies?
This group of therapies uses techniques that manipulate and/or move one or more parts of the body, such as massage, acupuncture, or acupressure. An additional body-based therapy is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, where people are exposed to 100% oxygen at a higher-than-normal pressure.
What are the benefits of using these therapies?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows promise in helping with wound healing in cancer treatment, especially radiation-induced injuries, and in improving outcomes for head and neck cancer.
Are they safe?
While most body-based therapies involve little risk, we encourage you to seek competent, trained practitioners. Some professionals may specialize in working with people with cancer, such as oncology-trained massage therapists. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy should be discussed with your oncologist because it can cause serious side effects; it’s also dangerous for people with certain lung problems or injuries to the chest. In some studies, people who received HBOT in addition to radiation had worse radiation toxicity—damage to the body outside of the tumor site caused by the radiation. Consult your healthcare team about the suitability of any body-based therapy for your condition and needs.