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Acupuncture and Massage Therapy for Cancer Pain Relief: Evidence-Based Benefits

Written by Brandi Lemessy on . Posted in Research Blog Postings.

Authors: Janet Liu, MA, C-IAYT, SIO Project Coordinator; Ting Bao, MD, MS, SIO Past President, SIO Fellow; IMAGINE Project Team

Pain is one of the most common and challenging symptoms affecting up to 45% of people with cancer.(1) Cancer-related musculoskeletal pain may stem from the disease itself or emerge as a side effect of standard cancer treatments. Musculoskeletal pain affects bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, or muscles, and can become chronic. Chronic pain is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as fatigue and insomnia, leading to impaired overall quality of life.(2) 

While medications remain the first-line approach, a large body of research shows that integrative therapies such as acupuncture and massage therapy are effective non-medication options for safely and effectively reducing cancer-related musculoskeletal pain and related symptoms. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute- (PCORI) funded Integrative Medicine for Pain in Patients with Advanced Cancer Trial (IMPACT) found that both therapies were equally effective in improving pain and co-occurring symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbance.(12) The SIO–ASCO (Society for Integrative Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology) guideline on pain recommends acupuncture and oncology massage as evidence-based options.(3) Many cancer centers now include these therapies as part of standard cancer care. 

“For general cancer or musculoskeletal pain, therapies like acupuncture, reflexology or acupressure, and massage have evidence showing benefits outweigh harms. These approaches can be safely integrated with  conventional medications or physical therapy.” 

— Jun J. Mao, MD, MSCE, Chief, Integrative Medicine & Wellness Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK); Principal Investigator, IMPACT study and the IMAGINE Project(4) 

Acupuncture: Evidence for Pain Relief 

Acupuncture is part of an ancient traditional medicine system that research has demonstrated to be an effective treatment for musculoskeletal pain.(3) The procedure involves the use of very thin, sterile needles placed at specific points on the body. Research shows that acupuncture stimulates peripheral nerves, releases endorphins and serotonin, and modulates brain regions involved in pain perception.(5) 

Studies have shown that acupuncture can: 

  • Reduce the amount of pain medication needed (6, 12)
  • Ease side effects from pain medications (3)
  • Improve pain related symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, and anxiety (7, 8, 9, 12) 
  • Improve overall quality of life during and after cancer treatment (3, 10, 12)

When provided by trained practitioners, acupuncture is considered safe for most people with cancer. 

Massage Therapy: Evidence for Symptom Reduction 

Oncology massage adapts therapeutic massage techniques to ensure safe, appropriate care for people with cancer. Evidence suggests massage can reduce pain, tension, and stress by modulating the nervous system.(11, 12) 

Research shows that massage can:

  • Improve pain and mood in people with cancer(12)
  • Reduce anxiety(11, 12)
  • Improve sleep and reduce fatigue(12)
  • Support overall quality of life during and after treatment(11, 12, 13)

Massage is generally safe when delivered by an oncology-trained therapist. 

Patient Voices: Real Experiences with Acupuncture and Massage 

People with cancer describe acupuncture and massage as providing meaningful relief—helping ease discomfort, reduce stress, improve sleep, and enhance mobility. Many turn to these therapies to lessen reliance on pain medications and manage difficult side effects. In doing so, they often feel more in control of their symptoms and more supported throughout the treatment journey. 

“As I had radiation therapy and chemo, I was achy, had fatigue, balance issues, and fractured my shoulder. I used acupuncture and massage regularly, and I felt better. I believe acupuncture can boost the immune system, aiding recovery.” – Joan Rodman Smoller, PhD 

“Mom is 96 years old with severe lumbar stenosis, chronic low back pain, peripheral neuropathy, and osteoarthritic knee pain. Her age precluded opioids or surgery. Acupuncture has been magical—relieving her back pain, pins & needles, and knee pain—and may be causing endorphins to release, resulting in pain relief and nimbleness.” – Pearl Leung 

“I am in active treatment and started acupuncture to help my body adapt and treat issues like sciatica. My sciatica has cleared up, and my overall health has been stable. Acupuncture has helped me overcome symptoms and has been a huge help with my mental health.” – Burt Rosen

Implementing Evidence-Based Therapies in Clinical Programs 

Integrating evidence-based therapies like acupuncture and massage into standard cancer care can provide relief from pain and improve quality of life for patients. As more people with cancer seek non-drug options for pain, expanding access to trained, oncology-certified practitioners will be essential. By combining these therapies with standard medical treatment, clinical programs can offer more holistic care. 

Building on findings from the IMPACT study to achieve these goals, MSK and SIO are partnering on the Implementing Massage & Acupuncture to Achieve Better Pain Management in Oncology Care (IMAGINE) project, also funded by PCORI, to expand access to these evidence-based therapies by supporting their integration into routine cancer care across diverse clinical settings in the United States. IMAGINE aligns with SIO’s mission to advance evidence-based integrative healthcare for people affected by cancer. 

Through IMAGINE, MSK and SIO are working with 35 rural and urban academic and community cancer centers across the U.S. to implement evidence-based oncology acupuncture and massage protocols. This four-year project brings evidence from the IMPACT trial to real-world clinical settings, helping thousands of people with cancer find relief from musculoskeletal pain. (12)

You can learn more about IMAGINE here: https://integrativeonc.org/imagine-project/. 

References 

  1. Snijders RAH, Brom L, Theunissen M, van den Beuken-van Everdingen MHJ. Update on prevalence of pain in patients with cancer 2022: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(3):591. 
  2. Mao H, Bao T, Shen X, Li Q, Seluzicki C, Im EO, Mao JJ. Prevalence and risk factors for fatigue among breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors. Eur J Cancer. 2018;101:47-54. 
  3. Mao JJ, Ismaila N, Bao T, Barton D, Ben-Arye E, Garland EL, Greenlee H, Leblanc T, Lee RT, Lopez AM, Loprinzi C, Lyman GH, MacLeod J, Master VA, Ramchandran K, Wagner LI, Walker EM, Bruner DW, Witt CM, Bruera E. Integrative medicine for pain management in oncology: Society for Integrative Oncology–ASCO guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(34):3998-4024.
  4. Harvey B, Mao J. Integrative medicine for pain management in oncology: SIO-ASCO guideline. ASCO Guidelines Podcast. September 19, 2022. 
  5. Robinson CL, Berger A, Sottosanti E, Li M, Kaneb A, Keefe J, Kim E, Kaye AD, Viswanath O, Urits I. Acupuncture as part of multimodal analgesia for chronic pain. Orthop Rev. 2022;14:38321. 
  6. Mao JJ, Liou KT, Baser RE, Bao T, Panageas KS, Romero SAD, Li QS, Gallagher RM, Kantoff PW. Effectiveness of electroacupuncture or auricular acupuncture vs usual care for chronic musculoskeletal pain among cancer survivors: The PEACE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2021;7(5):720-727. 
  7. Li X, Lampson K, Rosa WE, Li QS, Ramalingam MB, Epstein AS, Mao JJ. Effect of acupuncture on fatigue in cancer survivors with chronic pain: A secondary analysis. Support Care Cancer. 2025;34(1):31. doi:10.1007/s00520-025-10219-z. 
  8. Höxtermann MD, Buner K, Haller H, Kohl W, Dobos G, Reinisch M, Kümmel S, Cramer H, Voiss P. Efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia in breast cancer survivors: A randomized controlled trial. Cancers (Basel). 2021;13(16):4082. doi:10.3390/cancers13164082. 
  9. Kwag E, Li X, Garland S, Bryl K, Taylor L, Li QS, Amann L, Mao JJ, McConnell KM. Acupuncture versus cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety among cancer survivors with insomnia: An exploratory analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Integr Med Res. 2025;14(4):101213. doi:10.1016/j.imr.2025.101213. 
  10. Sun L, Ramalingam MB, Baser R, Santos Teles M, Seluzicki C, Li QS, Mao JJ. Acupuncture improves functional limitations for cancer patients with chronic pain: A secondary analysis of PEACE randomized clinical trial. Curr Oncol. 2025;32(11):640. doi:10.3390/curroncol32110640. 
  11. Win Myint O, Yoong SQ, Toh E, Lei F, Jiang Y. Effectiveness of massage therapy for cancer pain, quality of life and anxiety: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Nurs. 2025;34(1):49-87. 
  12. Epstein AS, Liou KT, Romero SAD, Baser RE, Wong G, Xiao H, Mo Z, Walker D, MacLeod J, Li Q, Barton-Burke M, Deng GE, Panageas KS, Farrar JT, Mao JJ. Acupuncture vs massage for pain in patients living with advanced cancer: The IMPACT randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(11):e2342482. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.42482.
  13. Izgu N, Metin ZG, Karadas C, Ozdemir L, Çetin N, Demirci U. Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy with classical massage in breast cancer patients receiving paclitaxel. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2019;40:36-43.