A recent study published in the BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care suggests that just 20 minutes of mindful breathing can significantly reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of pain experienced by cancer patients, as well as alleviate the anxiety that often accompanies this pain.
Mindful breathing is a simple practice that involves focusing attention on one’s breath. In this study, it was found to be a valuable complement to traditional pain relief methods, providing cancer patients with an additional tool to manage their discomfort.
The researchers believe that incorporating mindful breathing into pain management strategies can offer a broader range of options for those suffering from cancer.
Cancer-related pain is a common issue, affecting about 30–40% of patients worldwide. This pain can be caused by the tumor itself, which may press on or invade nearby tissues, or by nerve damage resulting from cancer treatments.
Despite advancements in pain management techniques, many patients still struggle with inadequate pain control, making it a significant challenge for healthcare providers.
Over the years, various complementary treatments have been explored to help manage cancer pain. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, acupuncture, and exercise.
More recently, mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindful breathing, have gained recognition for their potential to relieve pain. However, most previous research on mindfulness has focused on programs lasting several weeks or very short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes.
These studies have also often involved people without cancer, leaving a gap in understanding how mindfulness might benefit cancer patients specifically.
Given earlier research indicating that mindfulness sessions longer than 10 minutes might be more effective at relieving pain, the researchers behind this study wanted to explore whether a single 20-minute session of mindful breathing could have a similar effect on cancer patients.
To investigate this, they conducted a small, randomized study involving 40 cancer patients who were hospitalized and experiencing moderate to severe pain.
These patients were among 259 who were initially approached for the study. Each participant had a pain score of 4 or higher on a scale of 0 to 10, indicating moderate to severe pain.
The patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group, consisting of 21 patients, participated in a 20-minute mindful breathing session. This session was guided by a doctor trained in mindfulness techniques.
The session began with a brief explanation of mindfulness and its benefits.
The actual practice involved four steps, each lasting five minutes: recognizing the in-breath and out-breath, following the full length of each breath, bringing the mind’s attention back to the body, and finally, relaxing the body from head to toe.
The second group, made up of 19 patients, received a 20-minute session of supportive listening instead. During this time, a doctor led a conversation using semi-structured questions, encouraging patients to talk about their experiences with illness.
To measure the effectiveness of these interventions, the researchers used the Numeric Rating Scale (0–10) to assess the intensity and unpleasantness of each patient’s pain before and after the sessions.
They also used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which consists of 14 items rated on a 4-point scale, to evaluate the patients’ mood and anxiety levels.
In addition to these assessments, the researchers gathered background information and clinical data from the hospital’s medical records. This included details about the patients’ types and stages of cancer, as well as their use of pain relief medications like morphine.
The results of this study highlight the potential benefits of mindful breathing as a simple, non-invasive way to reduce pain and anxiety in cancer patients.
While traditional pain management methods remain crucial, mindful breathing offers an additional, complementary option that can enhance the overall quality of life for those dealing with cancer.
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The research findings can be found in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.
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