Mindfulness, with its characteristic focus on non-reactive observing and judging, is indicated to be a useful tool for managing pain, fatigue and psychological distress among women with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic cancer comes with heavy load of biological and psychological distress. There are newer studies are suggesting that higher mindfulness is associated with lower pain, depression and sleep disturbances among cancer patients.
In a recent study published in the journal of Psycho-Oncology suggested that, “ higher mindfulness was associated with lower symptom levels including lower pain severity, pain interference, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance.” It further showed that non-reactivity and non-judging were the most impactful skills for working through the above symptoms.
It is also worth noting that previous studies have also indicated that perception of the intensity of pain is favourably changed with mindfulness practices and that mindfulness-induced pain relief is relatively different. Other studies have suggested the role of mindfulness in pain control. For example in terms of knee surgery, mindfulness have been found to helpful in controlling post-op pain. And Yoga has been found be helpful in cancer.
American Society of Oncology has recently suggested that the role in yoga in cancer care should be seriously considered since yoga movements tend to integrate body and mind during intense interventions related to chemotherapy and other procedures.
