Mindfulness-based interventions in cancer patients and survivors

This review aimed to summarize available data about the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for cancer-related symptoms in cancer patients and survivors.  

This review concluded that mindfulness-based interventions can have a beneficial effect as an adjuvant therapy in these patients.  

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) are aimed at relieving symptoms of stress, mental health concerns, and physical pain. They can be used to address and treat a range of symptoms and concerns. Mindfulness refers to paying attention mostly to the present moment. BMIs are aimed at distracting the patient from negative and unhealthy thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. 

Cancer has a negative effect on the quality of life (QOL) and the overall health of patients. Cancer-related symptoms include anxiety, depression, fatigue, and stress. It is thought that MBI can be used as an adjuvant therapy in cancer patients and survivors to reduce cancer-related and treatment-related symptoms. An adjuvant therapy is used in addition to the main therapy to reach the final goal.  

It was unknown if MBIs were effective as an adjuvant therapy for the management of cancer-related symptoms in cancer patients and survivors.

This study reviewed data from 3476 cancer patients in 29 studies. Patients in these studies received MBIs or other treatments (control). The outcomes evaluated were anxiety, depression, stress and overall quality of life. 

Patients who received MBIs reported significantly lower anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress compared to patients who did not receive these interventions. Patients also reported greater QOL, posttraumatic growth and mindfulness when compared to patients who did not receive these interventions. Posttraumatic growth refers to positive personality change following traumatic life events.  

Mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) had the strongest intervention effect on anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) and mindfulness-based care recovery (MBCR) also had effects on anxiety and depression.

This review concluded that MBI can be effectively used as an adjuvant therapy for the management of cancer-related symptoms among cancer patients and survivors.