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Nonpharmacologic techniques are advocated as adjuncts for pain control in the cancer population, but evidence-based support for this approach is lacking. To determine whether massage therapy is an effective nonpharmacologic adjunct for ameliorating pain in patients with advanced cancer, investigators performed a prospective, randomized trial involving 380 patients with pain levels ≥4 (on a scale of 0 [no pain] to 10 [severe pain]) and life expectancy of at least 3 weeks. Among the exclusions were platelet count <100,000, anticoagulant therapy, or unstable spine. Patients were randomized to a 2-week regimen including up to six 30-minute sessions of either simple touch (control group) or massage interventions such as effleurage (light strokes…