Cancer

Show/hide descriptions

• Up one level
• A randomized controlled trial of the effects of transcendental meditation on quality of life in older breast cancer patients
  Nidich SI1, Fields JZ, Rainforth MV, Pomerantz R, Cella D, Kristeller J, Salerno JW, Schneider RH. Integr Cancer Ther. 2009 Sep;8(3):228-34. Abstract This single-blind, randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of the Transcendental Meditation program plus standard care as compared with standard care alone on the quality of life (QOL) of older women (>or=55 years) with stage II to IV breast cancer. One hundred and thirty women (mean age = 63.8) were randomly assigned to either experimental (n = 64) or control (n = 66) groups. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy- Spiritual Well-Being (FACIT-SP), and Short-Form (SF)-36 mental health and vitality scales were administered every 6 months over an average 18-month intervention period. Significant improvements were found in the Transcendental Meditation group compared with controls in overall QOL, measured by the FACT-B total score (P = .037), emotional well-being (P = .046), and social well-being (P = .003) subscales, and SF-36 mental health ( P = .017). RESULTS: It is recommended that this stress reduction program, with its ease of implementation and home practice, be adopted in public health programs.
• Breast Cancer: How Transcendental Meditation Helps Recovery
  To manage stress and gain the inner strength to deal with a serious illness, many women find that learning the Transcendental Meditation technique is a key factor. Not only does this meditation provide deep relaxation and calm, but also the energy, intuition, and clarity of mind to face the challenges of fighting for one’s life. Publication: ”The Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Women with Breast Cancer” Integrative Cancer Therapies September 2009;8(3)
• Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Use of Integrative Therapies as Supportive Care in Patients Treated for Breast Cancer
  JNCI Monographs 2014;50:346-358. Heather Greenlee, Lynda G. Balneaves, Linda E. Carlson, Misha Cohen, Gary Deng, Dawn Hershman, Matthew Mumber, Jane Perlmutter, Dugald Seely, Ananda Sen, Suzanna M. Zick, Debu Tripathy, for the Society for Integrative Oncology Guidelines Abstract Background The majority of breast cancer patients use complementary and/or integrative therapies during and beyond cancer treatment to manage symptoms, prevent toxicities, and improve quality of life. Practice guidelines are needed to inform clinicians and patients about safe and effective therapies. Methods Following the Institute of Medicine’s guideline development process, a systematic review identified randomized controlled trials testing the use of integrative therapies for supportive care in patients receiving breast cancer treatment. Trials were included if the majority of participants had breast cancer and/or breast cancer patient results were reported separately, and outcomes were clinically relevant. Recommendations were organized by outcome and graded based upon a modified version of the US Preventive Services Task Force grading system. Results The search (January 1, 1990–December 31, 2013) identified 4900 articles, of which 203 were eligible for analysis. Meditation, yoga, and relaxation with imagery are recommended for routine use for common conditions, including anxiety and mood disorders (Grade A). Stress management, yoga, massage, music therapy, energy conservation, and meditation are recommended for stress reduction, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life (Grade B). Many interventions (n = 32) had weaker evidence of benefit (Grade C). Some interventions (n = 7) were deemed unlikely to provide any benefit (Grade D). Notably, only one intervention, acetyl-l-carnitine for the prevention of taxane-induced neuropathy, was identified as likely harmful (Grade H) as it was found to increase neuropathy. The majority of intervention/modality combinations (n = 138) did not have sufficient evidence to form specific recommendations (Grade I). Conclusions Specific integrative therapies can be recommended as evidence-based supportive care options during breast cancer treatment. Most integrative therapies require further investigation via well-designed controlled trials with meaningful outcomes.
• The Center of a Wheel: Transcendental Meditation in a Cancer Survivor’s Life
  Bibi Tran, August 10, 2015 - includes a personal testimonial by Susan Wilking Horan, attorney, author, wellness advocate, three-time cancer survivor, and practitioner of Transcendental Meditation (TM) for 35 years and counting.
• TM Helps Cancer Treatment Center Health Providers Overcome Stress
  Bob Roth, 9/18/2012 Early in his medical career oncologist Ravi Patel, M.D. treated his cancer patients by the book. But it wasn’t long before he realized that there had to be a better way. Dr. Patel recognized that cancer patients needed more care and attention—both medical and emotional—than most patients. So in 1984, Dr. Patel founded the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center in Bakersfield, California, to deliver his vision of proper cancer care to his patients. And now, nearly 30 years later, the Center is one of the largest free standing cancer centers in a private practice setting in the western United States, with nearly 300 employees. Includes 7 minute video