For the millions of people living with cancer worldwide, pain is often an unwelcome companion on their journey. Despite advances in pain management, many patients continue to suffer, impacting their quality of life and overall well-being. But what if relief could be found in something as simple as breathing?
A study published in BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care offers a glimmer of hope for those battling cancer pain. Researchers from Malaysia have discovered that a single 20-minute session of mindful breathing can significantly reduce pain intensity, unpleasantness, and anxiety in cancer patients.
Led by Dr. Seng Beng Tan from the Subang Jaya Medical Centre, the study aimed to explore the efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention in alleviating cancer-related pain. While previous research has shown the benefits of longer mindfulness programs, this study focused on a short, accessible intervention that could be easily integrated into daily care routines.
For those unfamiliar with mindfulness, it’s a practice that involves focusing one’s attention on the present moment, often through techniques like meditation or controlled breathing. In this study, the mindful breathing session guided participants through four 5-minute steps: identifying the in-breath and out-breath, following the entire length of the breath, bringing the mind back to the body, and relaxing the body.
The study involved 40 adult cancer patients admitted to the University of Malaya Medical Centre. To be included, patients had to report a pain score of 4 or higher on a 0-10 scale, indicating moderate to severe pain. The researchers randomly assigned participants to either the 20-minute mindful breathing session or a 20-minute supportive listening session, which served as the control group.
The results were striking. Patients who participated in the mindful breathing session reported significantly greater reductions in pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to those in the supportive listening group. Moreover, the mindful breathing group experienced a more substantial decrease in anxiety levels.
What makes these findings particularly exciting is the rapid onset of relief. Unlike traditional pain management strategies that may take time to show effects, this brief mindfulness intervention provided almost immediate benefits. This quick action could be a game-changer for patients experiencing acute pain episodes or those seeking complementary approaches to their existing pain management regimens.
Source: https://studyfinds.org/breathing-technique-reduces-pain-cancer/?nab=0
