Chair massage is one of the wellness services offered free of charge by the HOPES Program at the Cancer Center. HOPES, which stands for Helping Our Patients and Families Through Education and Support, also offers gentle yoga, relaxation therapy, exercise, art and writing for patients, their families, and friends dealing with the stress of illness.

“Our wellness services focus on healing the mind, body, and spirit,” says HOPES director Katie Binda, MSW, LICSW. “They help patients cope with their symptoms and feel better. Chair massages induce relaxation, provide comfort, and promote well-being.”

During chair massages, patients sit fully clothed in a specially designed chair that allows the therapist to work on the upper body, explains Gregg Jones, MGH’s nationally certified muscular therapist. Massages last 15 to 20 minutes and can be done just before or after radiation therapy or during chemotherapy. Hospital patients on Ellison 14 may also receive massages while lying in bed.

The massages have proven to be popular. A survey of 125 patients who had received a massage found that 98 percent felt more relaxed afterward and 100 percent would have one again. All of the patients surveyed would recommend chair massage to others.

The HOPES Program, which also sponsors free educational and support workshops, is primarily funded through donations and grants, including a generous grant from the Friends of the MGH Cancer Center.

For a chair massage schedule, call 617.72.HOPES (617.724.6737).