Integrative Cancer Therapies
April 13, 2012
Sheila N. Garland, Rie Tamagawa, Sarah C. Todd et al.
91 citations
Participation in an 8-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program led to significant increases in mindfulness among 268 individuals with cancer. These increases accompanied a 55% reduction in mood disturbance and a 29% reduction in stress symptoms. Gains in mindfulness accounted for 21% of the mood improvement and 14% of the stress reduction. The two most important mindfulness skills for better psychological functioning were being aware of the present moment and refraining from judging inner experience.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2023
Chuntana Reangsing, Sasinun Punsuwun, Kristine Keller
21 citations
A meta-analysis of 19 studies with 2,139 women with breast cancer and depression found that mindfulness-based interventions moderately reduce depressive symptoms compared to control conditions (effect size g = 0.48). Interventions that included home practice assignments had a much larger effect (g = 1.75) than those without (g = 0.20). Studies using concealed allocation to treatment groups found smaller effects (g = 0.11) than those not reporting it (g = 1.33). Higher sample attrition was associated with smaller effects on depression. Mindfulness-based interventions appear moderately effective as adjunct treatments for depressive symptoms in this population.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2023
Leanna J Standish, Sonia M Malani, Ksenia Lynch et al.
5 citations
Over the past 30 years, integrative oncology has made valuable advances: intravenous high-dose ascorbate has clinical applications with certain chemotherapies; whole-body, extracorporeal, and locoregional hyperthermia are used for solid tumors including brain tumors; PDL-1 testing and immunotherapies show excellent outcomes in a subgroup of cancer patients; tumor DNA sequencing, including circulating tumor DNA, enables personalized precision treatments; better understanding of glucose metabolism has led to therapies like intermittent fasting and metformin; medical cannabis helps with chemotherapy side effects and shows anti-proliferative promise; psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology has expanded understanding of tumorigenesis and holistic immune regulation; psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is gaining traction for cancer-related existential distress; spiritual health is now measurable with an NIH-validated scale; and mind-body therapies effectively reduce cancer-related distress.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2024
Jennifer M Hulett, An-Lin Cheng, Jill E Bormann et al.
3 citations
A 6-week internet-delivered Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) was feasible and acceptable for women recently treated for breast cancer, with 86% adherence and 19.2% attrition. Pooled pre-to-post-intervention data showed decreased perceived stress and increased spiritual well-being. Cytokine analysis revealed that IFN-γ and IL-17A increased in the waitlisted group and decreased in the treatment group. The findings suggest MRP may reduce perceived stress and support spiritual well-being, but further studies are needed.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2025
Haley D M Schuman, Sofia Barkova, Raèf Mina et al.
2 citations
People with cancer often experience deep existential distress that standard psychosocial care does not adequately address. In this qualitative study, 15 participants with various cancer types and stages shared their views on psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) as a possible way to relieve psychosocial suffering, especially existential and emotional distress. Four main themes emerged: cautious optimism and differing attitudes toward specific psychedelics; the influence of relationships, stigma, and cultural framing; structural barriers like cost, legality, and unequal access; and the cancer context itself, where unmet needs for existential and spiritual support are common, particularly after active treatment or at advanced stages. Participants saw PAT as a potential adjunct to conventional care but raised concerns about safety, access, and stigma, highlighting the need for equitable, patient-informed implementation.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2024
Theresa Schweig, Madeleine Fink, Kira Schmidt et al.
In a small clinical trial, 17 cancer patients (average age 51, 11 women) completed a 5-week mindfulness-based intervention (two group sessions per week) while their brain responses to emotional images were measured via event-related potentials. Changes in the P3 brainwave component depended on both the emotional valence (positive vs. negative) and arousal level of the images. After the intervention, P3 amplitudes at the frontal electrode site Fz decreased significantly compared to before treatment, suggesting reduced neural reactivity to emotional stimuli. Depressive symptoms also showed a trend toward improvement. The findings indicate that mindfulness training may alter how the brain processes emotional information in cancer patients, with the strongest effects at frontal brain regions.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
July 15, 2023
Virginie Prevost PhD, Titi Tran Btec, Bénédicte Clarisse PhD et al.
In a pilot study, cancer patients, health professionals, and third persons who meditated together in a group program reported better stress management and, for patients, reduced feelings of loneliness and increased motivation. Focus groups with 7 patients, 7 health professionals, and 8 third persons revealed that participants appreciated the shared meditation, noted both benefits and difficulties with the practice, and agreed the program should continue. The qualitative findings support conducting a larger randomized trial to test the added value of meditating together for well-being and bridge-building between these groups.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
October 23, 2021
MS Yu-Yun Chang, MS Li-Yu Wang, MD Chia-Yu Liu et al.
A mindfulness meditation program improved quality of life for Taiwanese cancer outpatients. Thirty-five participants who completed three monthly meditation sessions showed significantly higher postintervention scores on the WHOQOL-BREF compared to their preintervention scores, while 34 usual-care participants showed no significant change except a decline in the environment domain. Gains in the meditation group were maintained at a three-month follow-up. The authors suggest mindfulness meditation may be an effective mind–body intervention for cancer patients, noting the diverse cancer diagnoses support potential general use.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
August 18, 2020
MS HyeYoun Park Md,, Sohee Oh PhD, MT Yumi Noh et al.
After a 4-week modified group therapy program combining supportive-expressive therapy and mindfulness, 28 female cancer patients in South Korea showed reduced distress, perceived stress, anger, and sleep disturbance, and increased quality of life. Mindfulness scores did not change significantly. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures, specifically high-frequency (HF) power, increased after treatment and were associated with decreases in anger. The authors propose that HF power may serve as a quantitative biomarker of distress and treatment response.
Integrative Cancer Therapies
January 1, 2020
Motahareh Mirmahmoodi, Parvin Mangalian, A. Ahmadi et al.
A randomized clinical trial tested mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) group counseling in women with breast cancer. After an 8-week intervention, the MBSR group showed significantly lower anxiety than the control group. No significant differences were found between groups in perceived stress, depression, or levels of cortisol and C-reactive protein. The authors conclude that MBSR can improve anxiety but not stress, depression, or inflammatory markers in this population.