Mindfulness as a Path to Healing: Empowering Breast Cancer Patients

MSOP
Oct 7
3 min read

Updated: Oct 13

Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be an incredibly stressful experience. Managing the complexities of the healthcare system, attending multiple appointments, and finding necessary resources can increase stress during an already challenging time. Equipping yourself or a loved one with effective coping mechanisms is essential for building resilience and maintaining mental and emotional well-being. Many Shades of Pink (MSOP) is here to help and support this process with monthly health fairs and support groups.

Coping with stress is not something we can fully master, but it is a skill we can continually develop by building connections and seeking support. One crucial step in this process is advocating for yourself. MSOP aims to empower patients to seek guidance from their healthcare providers and community resources. Where to Begin?

MSOP understands that a key step toward emotional healing begins with becoming familiar with and accessing community resources. Support groups offer an opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges. These groups can help foster a sense of community, shared experiences, empowerment, emotional support, encouragement, and access to valuable information and resources. Join the MSOP monthly virtual support group. Register here .

MSOP identifies the first step toward a path to healing as recognizing stress. After recognizing the multi-factorial impact of stress, one can learn to develop and sustain healthy coping mechanisms, which will allow for better management of the situation. Recognizing Stress

Stress can manifest subtly, and its symptoms are not always obvious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies the following signs and symptoms of stress:

Changes in emotions, such as anger, sadness, numbness, fear, and frustration
Altered appetite
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Insomnia or nightmares
Worsening of existing health and mental health conditions
Increased use of substances
Physical reactions such as headaches, body aches, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal changes

Managing Stress

The CDC recommends several strategies for managing stress, including:

Taking breaks from electronic devices
Staying physically active
Setting aside time to relax through deep breathing, stretching, or meditation
Building and maintaining meaningful connections with others
Incorporating vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat or non-fat dairy, and whole grains into your diet
Practicing good sleep hygiene
Limiting alcohol intake—no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women
Avoiding smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products
Steering clear of illegal drugs

The Role of Meditation

MSOP recognizes the significant effects of meditation on stress reduction. A systematic review and meta-analysis have shown that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy, compared to standard care, can significantly reduce stress, depression, and anxiety in breast cancer patients. Mindfulness has also been found to improve coping abilities and emotional well-being in individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. To review the study in detail, access the full article here.

Understanding and Practicing Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a form of meditation that involves maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. Rooted in Buddhist meditation, mindfulness encourages present-moment awareness without judgment. By focusing on breathing and bodily sensations, mindfulness helps individuals accept their thoughts and feelings as they are while letting go of negative thought patterns.

MSOP recommends the following steps to practice mindfulness