One study investigated the ongoing effects of participation in a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on quality of life (QL), symptoms of stress, mood and endocrine, immune and autonomic parameters in early stage breast and prostate cancer patients.
Forty-nine patients with breast cancer and 10 with prostate cancer enrolled in an eight-week MBSR program that incorporated relaxation, meditation, gentle yoga and daily home practice. Demographic and health behaviors, QL, mood, stress symptoms, salivary cortisol levels, immune cell counts, intracellular cytokine production, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at 6- and 12-month follow-up.
Patients were assessed pre- and post-intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-up, respectively.
Significant improvements in overall symptoms of stress were maintained over the follow-up period. Cortisol levels decreased systematically over the course of the follow-up. Immune patterns over the year supported a continued reduction in Th1 (pro-inflammatory) cytokines. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from pre- to post-intervention and heart rate reduced.
- One year pre-post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients.
- Influence of yoga on postoperative outcomes and wound healing in early operable breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.
- Aspects of the psychological management of breast cancer.
- Association of involvement in psychological self-regulation with longer survival in patients with metastatic cancer: an exploratory study.
- How psychological therapy may prolong survival in cancer patients: new evidence and a simple theory.
- Life review interviews on the spiritual well-being of terminally ill cancer patients.
- Perspectives on spirituality at the end of life: a meta-summary.
- Psycho-spiritual well-being in patients with advanced cancer: an integrative review of the literature.
- Spiritual issues and needs: perspectives from patients with advanced cancer and nonmalignant disease. A qualitative study.
- Spiritual needs of persons with advanced cancer.
