Cancer patients should meditate twice a day, scientist says

"As part of a study, she analysed how the 'stress hormone' cortisol fluctuates in cancer patients throughout the day. In healthy people, they are usually highest in the morning and lowest in the evening. But in cancer patients this is disrupted - staying persistently high over a 24-hour time period. This allows cancer cells to transform to become more robust, harder to treat and more likely to spread, the research found."

"'Patients should, in as much as they can, do things that experts advise all of us to do to manage stress - exercise, get outside in nature, engage in mindfulness practices like journaling, meditation or deep breathing, eat a healthy diet, give back to others, get enough sleep,' Dr Bussey said. 'I think there are arguments to be made for starting and ending the day with practices that reduce stress and promote quality sleep. 'In the morning, those practices can support a resilient mental state that helps us manage daily stress better. 'At night, those same types of practices can help us relax and facilitate getting quality sleep.'"

"'Spending time with friends and family even if it is just hanging out or being in the same room together can help,' Dr Bussey said. The findings - along with similar research - are part of the reason that some institutions now include counselling and support groups as part of the treatment plan for cancer, she explained. She added that having cancer itself is a stressful experience so minimising any extra during normal life, while developing effective comping mechanisms, is important because 'no one is going to eliminate stress completely'."

Psychological stress contributes to both the development of cancer and a patient's response to treatment. Cortisol normally peaks in the morning and falls by evening, but in many cancer patients cortisol remains persistently elevated across a 24-hour period. Persistently high cortisol enables cancer cells to become more robust, harder to treat, and more likely to spread. Stress-reduction strategies — including exercise, time outdoors, mindfulness (journaling, meditation, deep breathing), healthy diet, adequate sleep, social connection, counselling and support groups — can support resilience, improve sleep quality, and form part of comprehensive cancer care.

Read at Mail Online