| Author(s) | Date | Goal of the study | Type of study | Methods | Sample | Results |
| Weinrich, S, & Weinrich, M. | 1990 | Evaluate the effect of therapeutic massage in the levels of pain | Experimental | Visual Analogue Scale (EVA). | 28 cancer patients | -Decrease of immediate pain levels in males and only in the experimental group |
| Ferrell-Torry, A., & Glick, O. | 1993 | Evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic massage in pain, anxiety, vital signs and relaxation | Exploratory | analogue for pain; -Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory; -TA, FC, FR | 9 cancer patients | -Reduction of pain in 60% and anxiety X = 24; -Reduction of vital signs, indicating its relaxing action |
| Ahles, T., Tope, D., Pinkson, B., Walch, S., Hann, D., Whedon, M. | 1999 | Analyze the impact of therapeutic massage in psychological, physical and Psychophysiological measures | Experimental | State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Brief Profile of Mood States (POMS) | 34 patients awaiting bone marrow transplant | It Had immediate effect on stress reduction, nausea and anxiety No significant difference of these variables in the long run |
| Wilkie, D., Kampbell, J., Cutshall, S., Halabisky, H., Harmon, H., Johnson, L., et al. | 2000 | Evaluate the effect of therapeutic massage in the levels of pain | Random study | EVA | 29 cancer patients | -Decrease in pain intensity at 42% in the experimental group and 25% for the control group |
| Grealish, L., Lomasney, A., & Whiteman, B. | 2000 | Analyze the impact of massage therapy in pain, nausea and relaxation | Randomized | EVA. | 87 cancer patients | -Immediate Reduction of pain, nausea and relaxation |
| Toth, M., Kahn, J., Walton, T., Hrbek, A., Eisenberg, D., & Russell, P. | 2003 | Evaluate the effect of massage therapy in pain and anxiety | Pilot study | Pain, anxiety (VAS) and quality of life (QOL) | 26 cancer patients with metastases | -Decreased pain of 5.50 to 3.83 -Increasing the anxiety of 3.83 to 4.75 |
| Post-White, J., Kinney, M. E., Savik, K., Gau, J. B., Wilcox, C., & Lerner, I. | 2003 | Determine whether the therapeutic massage and touch are more effective than the standard treatment in reducing symptoms of anxiety, mood disorders, pain, nausea and fatigue and increasing relaxation and satisfaction | Randomized | BPI (Brief Pain Index); BNI (Brief Nausea Index); POMS (Profile of Mood States) | 164 patients | -Reduced levels of anxiety, pain with decreased use of pain relievers, blood pressure, heart rate and breathing |
| Soden, K., Vincent, K., & Craske, S. | 2004 | Evaluate the effectiveness of the massage to decrease pain, anxiety, depression, sleep pattern and improve the quality of life | Randomized | EVA, Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) (scale of sleep), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HAD) and the list of Symptoms Rotterdam (RSCL). | 42 cancer patients | No significant differences in terms of improvement in pain management, anxiety or quality of life. -Improved sleeping patterns -Reduction of depression in the massage group |
| Hernandez-Reif, M., Ironson, G., Field, T., Hurley, J., Katz, G., & Diego, M. | 2004 | Evaluate the effect of massage therapy in anxiety, mood swings and depression. | Experimental | State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Profile of Mood States (POMS); symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) | 34 women with breast cancer | -Minimization in anxiety, depressed mood and anger in the short term; -Minimization, long-term, depression |