Mindfulness and its influence on quality of life and immune response in women with breast cancer

Kosz Katarzyna, Zielińska Martyna, Zarankiewicz Natalia, Kuchnicka Aleksandra, Aleksandrowicz Jakub, Książek Katarzyna, Mojsym‑Korybska Sylwia. Mindfulness and its influence on quality of life and immune response in women with breast cancer. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. 2019;9(8):493-497. eISSN 2391-8306. DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3380716

http://ojs.ukw.edu.pl/index.php/johs/article/view/7342

 

 

 

 

The journal has had 7 points in Ministry of Science and Higher Education parametric evaluation. Part B item 1223 (26/01/2017).

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© The Authors 2019;

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Received: 05.08.2019. Revised: 15.08.2019. Accepted: 29.08.2019.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness and its influence on quality of life and immune response in women with breast cancer

 

Katarzyna Kosz¹, Martyna Zielińska¹, Natalia Zarankiewicz¹, Aleksandra Kuchnicka¹, Jakub Aleksandrowicz¹, Katarzyna Książek², Sylwia Mojsym-Korybska³

 

1. Students’ Scientific Association of Chair and Department of Public Health,  Medical University of Lublin
2. Chair and Department of Developmental Dentistry, Medical University of Lublin

 

1. Chair and Department of Public Health, Medical University of Lublin

 

Abstract

            Mindfulness therapy is a psychological process, which main purpose is to concentrate attention on internal and external stimuli in the present moment. Practising mindfulness is correlated with well-being, greater energy and enthusiasm as well as the ability to cope with stressful situations. Breast cancer accounts for 22% of all malignant tumors in women. It is characterized by the highest mortality rate among all malignancies in this group.

 

            Diagnosis, applied treatment and changes in the women’s lifestyle may have a negative impact on their psyche. Symptoms such as depression, anxiety and fatigue often appear in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. These can lead to a decreased well-being and lower quality of life. Studies show that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy has a positive impact on the quality of life of patients suffering from breast cancer. What is more, those patients may have a worse immune response and less natural killers cells activity (NKCA) than people who doesn not have a cancer disease.

 

            MBSR can re-establish NKCA and improve immune response.  Patients who have noticed an improvement in their well-being during and after MBSR therapy showed higher NKCA. There is no doubt that MBSR therapy reduces the level of fatigue, depression and anxiety. Moreover, patients who undergo MBSR therapy are less afraid of a relapse and have less reactivity to the emotional stress.

 

Keywords: Breast cancer, Mindfulness, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction,  quality of life, natural killers cell activity