Massage may reduce swelling after breast cancer treatment
NCT ID NCT06297265
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a gentle massage technique called manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) can reduce swelling, pain, and other side effects in women receiving radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery for early-stage breast cancer. Fifty women will be enrolled, and researchers will track how well they follow the massage routine and whether it improves symptoms like breast swelling 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
- manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) breast massage
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a simple, drug-free way to ease swelling and discomfort after breast cancer radiation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase trial with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The main goal is to see if women will stick with the massage routine, not yet to prove it works.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 50 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Female with native breasts and localized breast cancer who are status post-lumpectomy surgery, will receive whole breast radiation therapy with/without nodal irradiation, with standard fractionation or moderate hypofractionation * Age \>= 18 years * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent in English or Spanish Exclusion Criteria: * Underlying diagnosis of chronic inflammatory illness or collagen vascular disorder, e.g. scleroderma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia as these conditions may significantly affect the likelihood and magnitude of radiation related toxicity * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, unstable cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements * Inability to provide written informed consent in English or Spanish * Patients receiving ultra-hypofractionation, and/or partial breast or chest wall radiation therapy are excluded
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITINGLos Angeles, California, 90033, United States
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