Is Mindfulness Therapy Effective In Treating Depression For Those Living With Cancer?

A cancer diagnosis can be distressing to cope with, and those diagnosed may experience fear, sadness, anxiety, and anger. There is no right or wrong way to react to or live with a cancer diagnosis, and anxiety and depression can be common in cancer patients. However, options are available for coping and finding support if you seek it. There are often physical and psychological elements involved with cancer that may be challenging to grapple with. Mindful therapy modalities like mindfulness-based therapy may offer relief if you're experiencing symptoms of depression or extreme emotional distress.

Tips for coping with depression

If you're experiencing anxiety and depression, consider the following tips for coping.  

Let yourself feel your feelings

Studies show that suppressing emotions can cause physical and emotional challenges. While it can be overwhelming to experience a mixture of emotions or the depth of emotion that might occur during your cancer journey, embracing any feelings of fear, sadness, anger, or anxiety may be beneficial. Learning to feel your feelings and let them pass through you might lessen the intensity of these emotions when they arise. Accepting that you feel the way you feel can remind you that it is a natural response to your circumstances. 

Lean on your support system

Cancer can feel alienating and isolating; it may feel like no one understands what you're going through. Although only you can experience what you're going through, talking about your feelings with loved ones can help them understand and may relieve challenging emotions. In addition, studies indicate that social connection can improve psychological well-being and provide mental wellness.

Utilize the resources around you 

Family and friends can offer support, but you may find more relief from the professional resources in your area. Don't hesitate to seek therapy or counseling if you're struggling to cope with the feelings associated with cancer. You may also have counselors and psychologists on your cancer team at your medical center who can provide you with tools unique to your situation. You might also consider participating in supportive-expressive group therapy with other patients with cancer.

Practice mindfulness 

Research studies in the Journal of Medical Internet Research show that one in three cancer patients experience high psychological distress. Mindfulness-based therapy can effectively reduce distress for these individuals. However, one potential drawback of conventional, face-to-face mindfulness therapy is that it might not be readily available. Online mindfulness-based cognitive therapy may be a more practical option for those experiencing symptoms like fatigue and pain.

In the study above, researchers examined the effectiveness of online mindfulness-based therapy for cancer patients. The research aimed to examine the levels of participation in online therapy based on client characteristics and their connection with treatment outcomes for clients with cancer. 

One large systemic review presented research exploring the benefits of mindfulness for several aspects of cancer treatment. It included multiple noteworthy studies and clinical trial details, including the following.

• In a randomized controlled pilot trial of women with breast cancer receiving breast cancer treatment, breast cancer patients who used mindfulness-based stress reduction experienced improvements in depression and had better coping strategies than breast cancer patients that didn’t. 

• Another study looked at Danish breast cancer patients and found those who practiced mindfulness practices, like sitting meditation, experienced fewer issues sleeping than those who didn’t. 

• Another looked into the lingering stress of cancer survivors. When looking into persistently fatigued cancer survivors and distressed breast cancer survivors, it found that breast cancer survivors and colorectal cancer survivors had reduced stress when they incorporated mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques. It also reduced cancer-related cognitive impairment. 

• A separate randomized control trial researched younger breast cancer survivors and found that mindfulness reduced stress, depression, and inflammatory signaling. 

In the study above, researchers examined the effectiveness of online mindfulness-based therapy for cancer patients. The research aimed to examine the levels of participation in online therapy based on client characteristics and their connection with treatment outcomes for clients with cancer. 

Researchers first explored whether client characteristics (demographic, psychological, cancer-related, and personality traits) could predict a person's willingness to try online mindfulness therapy and their willingness to adhere to the program. Researchers then tested whether participation (number of logins, number of emails sent to therapist, amount of time logged in, number of assignments completed) could predict treatment outcomes regarding improvement or distress in psychological symptoms. Overall, researchers predicted that more involved users would gain more from the intervention than those who were minimally involved.

Methods and interventions

The treatment program consisting of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy interventions was similar to those used for cancer patients in clinical settings, and users' participation was measured within the online program. Participants were categorized as nonusers, minimal users, low users, and intended users based on their usage measurements. Questionnaires were administered before beginning therapy to test participants' baseline characteristics, and characteristics were measured once again at the end of the therapy program.

The therapy intervention was designed to be completed in nine weeks; however, the average time to complete the program was 10.4 weeks. Each session focused on a different theme; for example, they partook in self-care one week and communication the next. Participants were then given assignments around that theme, including guided meditation audio files. Therapists provided consistent feedback for each assignment.

Results

After participants completed the mindfulness therapy, researchers studied the trends that emerged. Participants, on average, logged in 30.5 times throughout the study, with a mean logged-in time of 28.1 minutes each time. Individuals sent nine emails to their therapists, and most users completed the assignments. Seventeen participants were classified as nonusers (13.6%), 24.8% were minimal users, 9.6% were low users, and the majority, 52%, were intended users.

Compared to minimal and low users, intended users (or those who participated actively and according to the guidelines) reported less psychological distress and more positive mental health outlooks after the program was completed. A similar pattern was noted for participants who completed all assignments compared with those who did not. This result suggests that more significant involvement in online mindfulness therapy (compared to the sheer frequency or duration of use) is related to positive outcomes in mindfulness-based cancer recovery and cancer treatment.

Researchers also found that nonusers feared cancer recurrence more than those who used the platform. This result may be because those with high fear levels avoided participation out of fear of confronting their fears. Further analysis of which participants were more likely to adhere to the therapy program found that women demonstrated greater adherence than men. 

The study found that personality could also affect a person's willingness to complete online mindfulness therapy. Prior research has demonstrated that lower levels of unwanted feelings and impulsivity and higher levels of emotional unawareness, or alexithymia, correlated with less usage of online therapy interventions. Some research has also shown that older adults patients are more receptive to online cognitive-behavioral therapy than younger adults.

Study conclusion 

The most effective mental and physical health treatment for cancer patients may not be one-size-fits-all. Personality traits, past experiences, and levels of distress can all affect what treatment a person seeks, and it can be challenging to gauge what treatment someone will be receptive to.

Though you may suspect that those with higher levels of fear would be more likely to seek help, this research showed the opposite. Nonusers feared cancer recurrence more than those willing to participate in online mindfulness therapy actively. Additionally, intended users were more conscientious than minimal and low users.

Ultimately, users who actively participated in the program significantly reduced levels of psychological distress and experienced more positive mental health scores than minimal and low users. The results of this study show that online mindfulness-based therapy can effectively reduce psychological distress and depression symptoms in those living with cancer who are willing to participate. 

Counseling options 

If you or someone you know is living with cancer, help is available. Mental health may be affected through every stage of cancer, from the day of diagnosis and throughout active treatment to the day you learn you are in remission. Studies show that online therapy can be an effective mental health treatment for various symptoms, including stress, depression, hospital anxiety, and grief.

When life feels overwhelming and out of control, it can be hard to know where to turn, but investing in your mental health can be one step to feeling better and experiencing stress reduction. When you seek therapy through a platform like BetterHelp, you are matched with a licensed therapist qualified to meet your needs with compassion and empathy. 

Through an online platform, you can also receive worksheets, resources, and guidance from home. Some platforms also offer an messaging feature to message your therapist if you have questions throughout your week.