Research shows that 20 minutes of mindful breathing can quickly reduce the intensity of cancer pain

Twenty minutes of mindful breathing, in which a person focuses on their breathing, can quickly reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of cancer pain and ease the anxiety that comes with it, according to findings from a small comparative study published online in the journal BMJ Supportive and palliative care.

According to the researchers, conscious breathing complements traditional pain management and increases options for cancer patients.

According to the researchers, about 30-40% of cancer patients worldwide suffer from moderate to severe pain. The pain is caused by the pressure that the tumor exerts on or penetrates into the surrounding tissue, neuropathic mechanisms and the side effects of treatment.

Despite advances in pain management and the development of new drugs and nerve blocks, inadequate pain control remains a major problem for clinicians, they add.

According to the researchers, the value of mindfulness-based interventions is increasingly recognized within the range of complementary treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, massage, acupuncture and exercise.

To date, research into the effectiveness of mindfulness for pain management has focused primarily on programs that last several weeks, or only 5 to 10 minutes, or on people who do not have cancer.

In light of previously published research showing that periods longer than 10 minutes can effectively relieve pain, the researchers wanted to see whether a single 20-minute session of mindfulness breathing could have the same effect in cancer patients.

To find out, 40 hospitalized patients (out of 259 patients approached) with various types of cancer and a pain score of 4 or higher out of 10 (moderate to severe pain) were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

One group (21 people) did a mindful breathing session, guided by a physician trained in mindfulness techniques. The session consisted of a short explanation of mindfulness concepts and practices, followed by 20 minutes of mindful breathing.

The session consisted of four steps, each lasting five minutes: identifying the inhalation and the exhalation; following the full length of the breath; bringing the mind back to the body; and relaxing the body, starting from the head and going all the way down to the feet.

The other group (19 people) received a 20-minute listening session led by a physician, during which they were asked about their experiences with the disease using semi-structured questions.

Before and after each intervention, the intensity and unpleasantness of pain were measured in each patient using the validated numerical rating scale (0-10), while the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), consisting of 14 items rated on a 4-point scale, was used to assess the patient’s mood.

Background information and relevant clinical data, such as cancer types and stages and use of painkillers, including morphine, were obtained from the hospital medical records.