Massage is unlikely to be of harm. Theoretically, if one would rub a melanoma or a superficial sarcoma, one might think of cell spread as a theoretical possibility. Yet, in cancer patients malignant cells frequently are present in the blood, without causing metastatic growth. Apparently, environmental anti-tumor factors outweigh these cells' potentials.

In our study of psychological factors preceding spontaneous regresson of cancer, we have met with Hugh Faulkner; if you Google the name, you'll see some links. He was diagnosed untreatable pancreatic cancer. As part of his macrobiotic preference - to make myself clear: I have not seen anti-tumor effects of macrobiotic diets- he also had massages by several persons. For him these were quite appaling experiences of support and care. Probably this care and his appreciation thereof, has helped further psychosocial and existential development. Social support is an oustanding factor in psycho-oncology, one study even finding a fourteenfold (14X) longer survival in patients meeting a friend every day, as compared with meeting a friend less than once a month.

So, there's more to massage than just the physical rub.