The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of complementary therapies concerning quality of life, pain, nausea, fatigue, sleeping problems, mood and stress in patients who underwent an operation as a result of gastrointestinal malignancy (stomach or colorectal). Patients had to be >18 years of age. Exclusion criteria were patients who were not able to undergo massage, not able to sign informed consent or speaking the native language, deaf patients and patients having a hand- or foot disorder.