Author(s): LINDA E. CARLSON

Penguin AU 2021 | No Category

No population needs to hear the message of mindfulness and acceptance more than the millions struggling with cancer, a group of people often gripped by stress, anxiety, and fear of the uncertain future, and yet, this is the first book that presents a mindfulness program specifically for them. Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery is an eight-week program based in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) that aims to ease stress, manage the side effects of cancer treatment, and ultimately increase immune function through meditation and gentle yoga. The authors’ own research-based program, mindfulness-based cancer recovery (MBCR), presented for the first time in this book, is proven to lower practitioners’ stress by 55 percent and reduce mood disorders by 65 percent. Practitioners also reported feeling more vigorous and less fatigued after undergoing the program. This guide addresses both the specific symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy and other cancer treatments and the emotional issues the survivor may be grappling with, such as fear of death, uncertainty, and lack of control. Readers use mindfulness meditation, relaxation and breathing exercises, visualisation, lovingkindness meditation, and gentle yoga to thrive throughout cancer treatment and all the years beyond.