Massage Impact on Sleep in Pediatric Oncology

Hospitalized pediatric oncology patients report anxiety, pain, disturbed sleep, and excess fatigue. Massage is safe, does not interfere with medications, and has been shown in limited studies to have efficacy in improving sleep as well as decreasing fatigue, anxiety and other symptoms in cancer patients and children with various ailments. This project aims to determine if individualized massage therapy for hospitalized pediatric patients receiving intensive chemotherapy or stem cell transplant (SCT) is associated with longer duration and improved quality of sleep, more robust circadian rhythms (CARs), improved quality of life (QOL) and reduced fatigue, anxiety, and pain, as compared to a standard of care group.