Mindfulness in Cancer Recovery and Chronic Disease Management

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• Understanding Mindfulness
• Mindfulness in Cancer Recovery
• Mindfulness for Chronic Conditions
• Recommended Mindfulness Books
• Mindfulness Practice and Benefits
• Full Transcript

Understanding Mindfulness

Mindfulness, as described by Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD, is a practice of paying attention in a particular way, fostering concentration and awareness. Although its origins are in ancient Buddhist traditions, mindfulness in medicine is entirely secular. It involves observing thoughts and sensations without reacting, promoting a state of openness and letting go.

Mindfulness in Cancer Recovery

Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD, emphasizes the role of mindfulness in cancer recovery. It helps improve patients' quality of life by reducing fatigue, enhancing sleep, and alleviating stress associated with cancer treatment. Mindfulness provides a mental framework that supports patients through the challenges of cancer therapy.

Mindfulness for Chronic Conditions

Mindfulness has proven beneficial for various chronic conditions, including depression, anxiety, and chronic pain. Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD, notes that over 120 experimental trials have shown positive results, indicating mindfulness's effectiveness in managing these conditions. It also aids in treating autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Recommended Mindfulness Books

For those interested in exploring mindfulness, Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD, recommends several key books. "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle offers insights into mindfulness's spiritual aspects, while Jon Kabat-Zinn's "Full Catastrophe Living" and "Wherever You Go, There You Are" provide practical guidance for integrating mindfulness into everyday life.

Mindfulness Practice and Benefits

Mindfulness is typically taught in an eight-week class format, which Dr. Barrows finds effective for cultivating attention and concentration. The practice has been shown to help with mental health disorders and chronic pain, offering a holistic approach to health and well-being. Mindfulness encourages a non-reactive observation of the mind and body, fostering a sense of calm and resilience.

Full Transcript

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: What is Mindfulness practice? Leading Integrative Medicine experts describe how Mindfulness can help cancer treatment and recovery. What are the best books on Mindfulness? How to apply Mindfulness in daily life?

How to use mindfulness meditation in cancer recovery? Mindfulness therapy in multiple sclerosis treatment. Cancer applications of mindfulness therapy. How to practice mindfulness? Which books to read about Mindfulness meditation? "The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. "Full Catastrophe Living" by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD: Yes. Mindfulness, the simplest way to express it is that it's a way of paying attention. The origins of Mindfulness are in ancient Buddhist practice about 2500 years ago. But the form in which we use Mindfulness in medicine is completely secular. Most patients would say this: Mindfulness is really a universal method for how the human mind works.

The qualities of attention that we cultivate sometimes include a practice of concentration. So sometimes the mind is focused on something, and then it stays there longer. There are certain qualities of attention in addition to that concentration, like openness and letting go. There is a witness perspective that is cultivated, so there is a part of you that is watching your mind's activity or your body's sensations. Your mind is not being reactive; it is just observing.

The research shows that mindfulness has a positive influence. Mindfulness training is often delivered in an eight-week class format. There are over 120 experimental trials now on Mindfulness, and the vast majority of clinical trial results are positive. The conclusions include that mindfulness is helpful for depression and anxiety. There are smaller studies on the use of Mindfulness for other mental health disorders.

Mindfulness also helps with chronic pain diseases. It helps a whole variety of chronic pain diseases. Mindfulness has a lot of cancer-related applications. It improves quality of life, decreases fatigue, helps sleep, and reduces the stress of going through cancer treatment. Several other smaller studies on the use of Mindfulness showed its benefit in other diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome. It helps with specific populations like the inner-city population in the US or in bilingual groups.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Sometimes we discuss Mindfulness and observation of the body and breathing. There is a well-known book by Eckhart Tolle, "The Power of Now." Is that a book that you would recommend to your patients? Maybe there are some other resources that are widely available that you usually recommend. Perhaps you could mention those resources on Mindfulness too?

Dr. Kevin Barrows, MD: Yes. "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle really is Mindfulness. When I first read that book, I was impressed. I don't think he says the word mindfulness in the whole book. I also think he focuses more on the spiritual benefits of the practice of Mindfulness. The benefits can be immense. The tradition from which Mindfulness came is primarily spiritual. So I love that book, "The Power of Now," and I do recommend it.

However, in the medical setting, I don't commonly recommend it unless the patient is displaying to me that they are interested in that level of self-awareness in the spiritual domain. Then I will recommend it. But for bringing Mindfulness into the middle of their suffering, when patients have back pain, anxiety disorder, or whatever it is, there are some other books that I recommend.

Jon Kabat-Zinn is the founder of this mindfulness-based stress reduction format. In 1979 he started this, and his books are excellent. There's a book called "Full Catastrophe Living.” That is the textbook for an eight-week class on Mindfulness. Then there's another book by Jon Kabat-Zinn that is much easier and shorter to read. It is called "Wherever You Go, There You Are." Sometimes someone's just interested in tasting Mindfulness a little bit, I recommend that latter book. For someone who is going to really do the practice of Mindfulness, for a Mindfulness class, we recommend "Full Catastrophe Living."

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Thank you, this is very useful to know. What is Mindfulness? Using mindfulness in cancer recovery and autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome. Best books on Mindfulness.