Spirit Research

Cancer survivor study links mind-body programs to changes in symptoms

A study of cancer survivors found changes in reported symptoms after mindfulness or tai chi and qigong sessions, Texas Metro News reports. Researchers reported the findings on September 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The mindfulness group reported improvements in fatigue and pain interference, while the tai chi and qigong group also reported improvements in sleep disturbance, according to Bioengineer.org. Pain interference measures how much pain disrupts everyday activities, rather than how intense it feels.

Published

The trial compared programs with a waitlist#

The Mindfulness and Tai Chi for Cancer Health trial enrolled more than 500 survivors with different cancers and stages of disease, Bioengineer.org reports. Participants could select a practice, while those without a preference were assigned one. Researchers compared both programs with a group on a waitlist.

The trial was partially randomized, meaning that assignment was not random for every participant. Bioengineer.org reports that researchers assessed both pain intensity and its interference with daily life. The programs had minimal effects on intensity, even as interference improved over time in both groups.

Texas Metro News reports that the mindfulness program combined meditation, breathing, gentle stretching and group discussion. Participants also discussed attitudes including acceptance and compassion. The tai chi and qigong sessions used flowing movements alongside attention to breathing and bodily sensations.

The practices have different traditions#

Tai chi began as a Chinese martial art for combat and self-defense, according to Wikipedia, and is now also practiced as exercise and relaxation. In the cancer trial, Bioengineer.org reports, tai chi was paired with qigong in a program centered on gentle movement and attention to the body.

Mindfulness involves paying attention to present sensations, thoughts, feelings and surroundings without judgment, Wikipedia says. The trial's mindfulness-based cancer recovery program included meditation and group discussion, according to Bioengineer.org.

The Arizona Cancer Center offers free online tai chi and yoga classes to patients and caregivers through its Circles of Holistic Care program, Tucson Spotlight reports. Peggy Turk Boyer, who cares for her husband, said the classes helped her feel relaxed and less anxious.

Lead researcher Linda Carlson, a University of Calgary professor, said in a news release that survivors can face long-term effects after treatment, Texas Metro News reports. Carlson said she hoped the study would start a conversation among medical teams about incorporating mind-body therapies into cancer care.

Discover more