Can Lymphatic Drainage Spread Cancer?

Can lymphatic drainage spread cancer? No. There is no peer-reviewed research to conclusively prove lymphatic drainage spreads cancer. 

Can Lymphatic Drainage Spread Cancer?

​While many massage therapists, instructors and textbooks claim massage and lymphatic drainage is contraindicated for people with cancer, there is no evidence supporting this. Massage and manual lymphatic drainage is not a contraindication for people with cancer. Like many massage myths this one is easily debunked simply through a quick search on pubmed. Other massage myths include drinking water to flush out toxins, or to serve as an analgesic after a massage. Another easily to disprove myth is massage is contraindicated in the first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy, or a massage of her ankles can induce labor.

It is widely believed lymphatic drainage massage is a contraindicated for individuals with malignant disease. Many believe this out of concern that lymphatic drainage will lead to the dissemination and acceleration of cancer. Research has indicated lymphatic drainage massage does not contribute to the spread of cancer and should not be withheld from individuals with metastasis. [1]

Additional research indicates lymphatic drainage massage is a safe procedure that does not  increase the risk of disease recurrence in breast cancer survivors who developed breast cancer-related lymphedema after surgery. [2]

“There is absolutely no evidence that lymphoma can be spread by massage,” says Ann LaCasce, MD, MMSc, a physician in the Adult Lymphoma Program at Dana-Farber and director of the Dana-Farber/Partners CancerCare Fellowship Program in Hematology/Medical Oncology. “We do not think of lymphoma as a disease that metastasizes – rather, it is often a systemic disease that travels through the lymphatics and blood and can land in any area in the body. Furthermore, manipulating tissue does not causes tumor cells to move.” [3]

There is no definitive evidence from well-conducted studies that directly proves lymphatic drainage massage spreads cancer in humans. This is important, because there are many massage therapists who will tell you otherwise. They are content to take the word written in their textbooks as gospel without doing their own research.

Can Lymphatic Drainage Spread Cancer FAQ

No, there is no peer-reviewed research that conclusively proves lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) spreads cancer. While theoretical concerns exist about manipulating the lymphatic system potentially mobilizing cancer cells, studies and expert opinions consistently show no evidence of this occurring in humans.

Many massage therapists, instructors, and textbooks claim that lymphatic drainage massage is contraindicated for individuals with cancer due to a fear that it could accelerate cancer spread or dissemination. This belief persists despite a lack of supporting evidence and is often based on outdated assumptions rather than research.

Yes, research indicates that lymphatic drainage massage is safe and not a contraindication for people with cancer. For example, a 2006 review found that MLD does not contribute to the spread of cancer and should not be withheld from patients with metastasis. Similarly, a 2015 study showed it does not increase the risk of disease recurrence in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema

Ann LaCasce, MD, MMSc, a physician in the Adult Lymphoma Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, states, “There is absolutely no evidence that lymphoma can be spread by massage.” She explains that lymphoma is a systemic disease that travels through lymphatics and blood naturally, and “manipulating tissue does not cause tumor cells to move”

Myths like this, along with others (e.g., drinking water flushes out toxins after massage, massage is contraindicated in early pregnancy, or ankle massage induces labor), persist because they are repeated in massage training and textbooks without scrutiny. A quick search on PubMed can debunk these claims, yet many therapists accept them as gospel without researching for themselves.

No, cancer patients don’t need to avoid it based on current evidence. However, it’s wise to consult a healthcare provider and ensure MLD is performed by a trained therapist, especially if cancer is active or near tumor sites, to tailor the approach to individual needs.

Lymphatic drainage massage is widely misunderstood as a risk for cancer patients, but research and experts agree it does not spread cancer. It’s a safe option for managing symptoms like lymphedema, and the idea that it’s contraindicated is a myth easily disproven by scientific literature.

Citations

[1] Godette, K., Mondry, T. E., & Johnstone, P. A. S. (2006). Can manual treatment of lymphedema promote metastasis? Review Journal of Social and Integrative Oncology, 4(1), 8–12. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16737666/

[2] Hsiao, P.-C., Liu, J.-T., Lin, C.-L., Chou, W., & Lu, S.-R. (2015). Risk of breast cancer recurrence in patients receiving manual lymphatic drainage: A hospital-based cohort study. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 11, 349–358. https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S79118

[3] Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. (2018, February). Can massages spread lymphoma? Insight. https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2018/02/can-massages-spread-lymphoma/