Can mindfulness and tai chi improve cancer recovery? U of C study finds benefits

Linda Carlson is a professor in the department of oncology at the University of Calgary. Her work suggests that mindfulness techniques and the ancient practices of tai chi and qigong help cancer patients manage pain and fatigue and improve sleep quality.

Cancer and its treatments are varied. Surgery, chemotherapy , radiation or hormone therapies and often combinations of these are used.

Despite the wide range of disease and treatments, there are several common symptoms for patients in recovery.

“Some of the most common things that can persist months or even years post-treatment are things like fatigue, difficulty sleeping, pain, anxiety, depression,” Carlson said.

And these types of symptoms can be notoriously difficult to treat, Carlson said.

“The traditional approach is, there's a pill for that,” Carlson said.

But for many who are going through or just completed cancer treatment, more medication is either not an option or unappealing, Carlson said.