“Breath of Fresh Air” Cancer Pain Relief
When it comes to pain, cancer patients can be hit with a double whammy.
Cancer itself often causes pain—and so can the treatments.
In fact, PAIN is one of the most common symptoms reported by cancer patients, with 30 to 40 percent experiencing ongoing pain.
The last thing they need is to load even MORE drugs into their overly taxed bodies.
Here’s something you can try instead.
This study included 40 people with various types of cancer who were all experiencing moderate to severe pain.
- Half of the individuals were guided through 20 minutes of mindful breathing.
- The other half participated in a listening session in which they could share about their illness.
The participants answered questions about their pain intensity of mood before and after every session.
One hundred percent of the people in the mindful breathing group experienced benefits.
They reported significant reductions in pain intensity and pain unpleasantness. They also experienced a greater drop in their depression and anxiety scores.
As an added benefit, this technique has ZERO side effects.
Plenty of research has shown that mindful breathing can help reduce pain, anxiety, and depression. This study was different because it evaluated whether it would have the same benefits specifically for cancer patients.
I’m encouraged to see that it does.
You can find free videos online to teach you this simple breathing technique.
Mindful breathing isn’t a cure-all. But it could help bring some much-needed relief to patients who are already going through so much.
When you’re in this situation, every little bit helps.
P.S. Still battling cancer-linked pain? There’s a safer solution than heavy-duty prescription meds. I’ve got the details HERE.
SOURCE:
Tan SB, Chai CS, Ng DLC, et al., Mindful breathing for cancer pain: efficacy of a single 20-minute session – a randomised controlled study, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, Published Online First: 20 August 2024. doi: 10.1136/spcare-2023-004762
