Carol's research picks:
Maria Hernandez-Reif, et al. Breast cancer patients have improved immune and neuroendocrine functions following massage therapy, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Volume 57, Issue 1, Pages 45-52, July 2004. Results: The immediate massage therapy effects included reduced anxiety, depressed mood, and anger. The longer term massage effects included reduced depression and hostility and increased urinary dopamine, serotonin values, NK (natural killer) cell number, and lymphocytes.

Jane, Wilkie, Gallucci et al., Effects of a full-body massage on pain intensity, anxiety, and physiological relaxation in patients with metastatic bone pain. J. Pain Symptom Management, 2008 Dec. 11; Massage therapy was shown to have effective intermediate, short-term, intermediate and long-term benefits (16-18 hours) on present pain intensity and anxiety.

Other research links:
A. L. Moseley, C.J. Carati and N.B. Piller, A systematic review of common conservative therapies for arm lymphodema secondary to breast cancer treatment. Annals of Oncology 18: 639-646, 2007. Manual lymphatic drainage reduced edema more than several other therapies but less than when combined with compression bandanges or "complex physical therapy" that included daily manual lymphatic drainage followed by compression bandaging and exercise

Hernandez-Reif M, Field t, etc. Natural killer cells and lymphocytes increase in women with breast cancer following massage therapy. Int J. Neurosci, 2005, Apr; 115(4):495-510. Women diagnosed with breast cancer had higher levels of dopamine, natural killer cells and lymphocytes after massage therapy.