Mindfulness based stress reduction provides psychological benefit and restores immune function of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer: A randomized trial with active control.
Brain, behavior, and immunity August 1, 2019 Linda Witek Janusek, Dina Tell, H. Mathews
Women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer who participated in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program showed greater reductions in perceived stress, fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms compared to those in an active control condition of cancer recovery and health education classes. The MBSR group also exhibited faster restoration of natural killer cell activity, lower TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels, and greater IFN-gamma production over the study period. These results suggest that early MBSR provision benefits both psychological well-being and immune function relevant to cancer control.