Role of Mindfulness and Yoga in Cancer Management

Cancer is a disease which has prominent physical, economic, social, and emotional consequences for those who are diagnosed and also their family. The development of anxiety and depression in cancer patients is linked to dissatisfaction with the extent of medical knowledge they have and the fear of their disease. Evidence is emerging that mindfulness-based-interventions (MBI) and Yoga involvement is linked to changes in potentially crucial biological indicators of health and stress, also alleviating some symptoms associated with cancer and fostering personal growth. Mindfulness and Yoga are regarded to lower the stress levels and response of the body to the stressors by lowering stress hormones, regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis, and improving parasympathetic function. Yoga and mindfulness have a promising and potential role in integrating the mind-body interventions in cancer management. Yoga and mindfulness are a set of practical interventions which are proven, to some extent, to help cancer patients minimize their symptom load and improve their quality of life.