Cancer

Today, 1,600 Americans will die of cancer. Just like yesterday, and just like tomorrow. Cancer accounts for nearly one out of every four deaths in the US, making it second only to heart disease among causes of death in the US, according to the American Cancer Society.

The National Institutes of Health calculates that the direct medical costs of cancer in 2010 were $102.8 billion, with another $161 billion in lost productivity. Mindfulness practice is a powerful tool in the fight against cancer and improving the quality of life for patients who have the disease, as research now shows.

Randomized controlled trial of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for survivors of breast cancer - In a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 84 breast cancer survivors were assigned to a 6-week MBSR program or control group.  MBSR subjects experienced less depression, anxiety and fear of reoccurrence, as well as higher energy and physical functioning.
 

A dietary intervention for recurrent prostate cancer after definitive primary treatment: results of a randomized pilot trial - Eleven dietary and cooking classes that integrated mindfulness practice were given to an intervention group. Compared to a wait-list control group, it showed significant reductions in the consumption of saturated fat and increased consumption of vegetable proteins. The intervention group displayed an increased quality of life.

No significant change was found in the rate of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) increase between the two groups; however, the mean PSA doubling time for the intervention group was substantially longer at the 3-month follow-up visit than that of the controls.
 
Mindfulness-based stress reduction training for oncology patients: Patients’ appraisal and changes in well-being - Forty-seven cancer patients were assessed before and after MBSR training, as well as one-year later.  The results show that directly after the training patients reported a better quality of life, more joy in life, less tension, and fewer physical symptoms. These effects appeared even stronger at follow-up. A year after the training a decrease was also found in depression, anger, vigor and total mood disturbance. No changes could be established for meaning in life and fatigue.
 
Mindfulness-based stress reduction: What processes are at work? - Women who finished medical treatment for breast cancer underwent an 8-week MBSR (MBSR) course.  They completed questionnaires pre- and post-MBSR and were interviewed using focus group methodology. Following the course, the women viewed life as more meaningful and manageable, and were able to "reperceive" what they encountered in their daily experiences.
 
A non-randomized comparison of mindfulness-based stress reduction and healing arts programs for facilitating post-traumatic growth and spirituality in cancer outpatients - Sixty cancer patients received MBSR and were compared to 44 receiving a healing through creative arts program.  For cancer patients, MBSR was more helpful in enhancing spirituality and reducing stress, depression and anger.
 
Impact of mindfulness based stress reduction on sleep, mood, stress, and fatigue symptoms in cancer outpatients - An eight-week MBSR program was used in this pilot study to examine sleep quality in 63 cancer patients.  In addition to improved sleep quality and reduced sleep disturbances, subjects had reduced stress, mood disturbance and fatigue.
 
Mindfulness-based stress reduction in relation to quality of life, mood, symptoms of stress, and immune parameters in breast and prostate cancer outpatients - Forty-nine patients with breast cancer and 10 with prostate cancer participated in an 8-week MBSR program. Demographic and health behavior variables, quality of life, mood, stress, and counts of cytotoxic cells, as well as NK and T cell production were assessed pre- and postintervention.  In addition to significant improvement in quality of life, stress symptoms and sleep quality, bloodwork was consistent with a shift in immune profile from one associated with depressive symptoms to a more normal profile.  This study is the first to show changes in cancer-related cytokine production associated with MBSR participation.
 
A randomized wait-list controlled clinical trial: The effect of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction program on mood and symptoms of stress in cancer outpatients - In a randomized controlled trial of 90 patients, those in an MBSR program experienced  fewer cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal symptoms; less emotional irritability, depression, and cognitive disorganization; and fewer habitual patterns of stress.  This program was effective in decreasing mood disturbance and stress symptoms in both male and female patients with a wide variety of cancer diagnoses, stages of illness, and ages.