Mindfulness Practices Show Promise in Improving Post-Cancer Treatment Symptoms
Mindfulness-based cancer recovery and Tai Chi/Qigong have demonstrated effectiveness in improving fatigue and pain interference among individuals who have completed cancer treatment and are experiencing distress. A study, the Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Cancer Health (MATCH) trial, reported by Ma et al. in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, involved 587 participants with a mean age of 60.7 years, 75% of whom were women. The most common previous diagnosis was breast cancer (40.7%). Participants could choose between a 9-week mindfulness-based cancer recovery program, which included meditation, Hatha yoga, group discussion, and daily home practice, or an 11-week Tai Chi/Qigong program, incorporating flowing movements, breath awareness, focused attention, body awareness, and imagery. Both programs were designed to have equal contact time. Tai Chi/Qigong also significantly improved sleep quality compared to a waitlist control group, while mindfulness-based cancer recovery showed a reduction in sleep quality scor...
