Foot massage may ease chemo sickness in cancer patients

NCT ID NCT03508180

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: Hospices Civils de Lyon Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looked at whether foot reflexology—a type of foot massage—can reduce nausea and vomiting caused by platinum-based chemotherapy. Eighty people with lung or digestive cancer received reflexology sessions during their chemo infusions and were asked to do self-massage between treatments. The goal was to see if this simple, non-drug approach could improve their comfort and quality of life.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: foot reflexology
What this could lead to: If it works, this could give cancer patients a drug-free way to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 80 participants and no blinding, so results may not be reliable or apply to everyone. Reflexology is unlikely to replace standard anti-nausea medications.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for DIGESTIVE CANCER are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

digestive system cancer Digestive System Neoplasms lung neoplasm Nausea neoplasm thoracic cancer Vomiting

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

LUNG CANCER AND CANCER OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Locations

Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud

Pierre-Bénite, France

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.