Mind-Body Approaches for Patients with Cancer

Popular theories abound about what role the mind plays in cancer. At one end of the spectrum are those who claim that cancer develops as a response to stress and that it can even be cured by the mind. At the other end are those who believe that a patient’s state of mind has no effect at all on the outcome of cancer treatment.

Although extremely stressful events such as the death of a spouse can alter the function of the body’s immune system, there is no scientific evidence that these stress-induced changes in the immune system cause cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. There is, however, evidence that the mind has a part to play in the health of the body.

It is not clear exactly how a person’s mental state affects the cancer process, but the way a patient copes mentally and emotionally with the disease is vitally important. The body processes controlled by the nervous system can “plausibly affect resistance to cancer,” according to an article quoted on M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s Complementary/Integrative Medicine Education Resources (CIMER) Web site. These processes include a person’s behavior (for example, adherence to cancer treatment) as well as the hormonal, immune, and autonomic nervous systems. Therefore, comprehensive medical care “must take into account not only the biological dimensions of an illness but also the psychological and social factors that affect the whole person,” according to Dr. David Spiegel in a New England Journal of Medicine editorial. Dr. Spiegel also wrote, “Curing cancer may not be a question of mind over matter, but mind does matter.”

In fact, several complementary therapies are mind-body approaches that help patients manage symptoms, improve the effectiveness of their treatment, and increase their overall health and sense of well-being. These therapies are not cures. Instead they complement, or add to, the patient’s medical treatment.

Some common mind-body practices include the following:

Support groups

In these groups, patients with cancer can discuss their feelings and concerns with other patients. A support group can meet in person, online, or via telephone. Some research indicates that participation in cancer support groups can reduce pain and ease distress.

Meditation

Meditation comes in many forms, but most involve concentrating on one’s breathing or on a visual experience or silently repeating a word or phrase or certain physical postures or movements to release stress and free the mind from worries. For optimal results, meditation should be practiced once or twice a day for 10 to 20 minutes. The benefits to patients with cancer can include diminished pain, reduced stress hormone levels, improved immune function, and improved mood.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of focused attention. It is similar to sleep, except that the patient is alert and in control but deeply relaxed and open to suggestion. Hypnosis is usually performed by a hypnotist, but people can learn to hypnotize themselves. The American Cancer Society endorses hypnotherapy for reducing pain and stress and promoting relaxation.

Yoga

An ancient Hindu practice that includes breathing exercises, body postures, and sometimes meditation, yoga helps patients to relax and gain control of their bodies and minds. It also has been shown to relieve pain and anxiety associated with cancer and to improve immune system function.

While these and other mind-body techniques are helpful for most people, some may be harmful to specific patients. Before beginning any complementary therapy, patients should be sure to check with their cancer care team.

For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.

Other articles in OncoLog, March 2004 issue:

• Translational Research Speeds the Journey from Lab Results to Clinical Outcomes
• New Tests Could One Day Predict Response to Chemotherapy and Presence of Metastatic Disease in Patients with Breast Cancer

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