Meditation and Cancer

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Meditation and Cancer
People practice meditation to help their minds and bodies become calm and relaxed.

Summary

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in different traditions around the world.
Regular meditation can give clarity, insight, and peace of mind.
You don't have to be religious to meditate; with patience and time, anyone can learn to do it.

What is meditation?
There are many different types of meditation. Most involve being still and quiet. Some involve movement, such as tai chi, chi gong, or walking meditation.

Meditation is a way of connecting with a natural state of mind that is spacious and clear. It is not eliminating thoughts, but noticing when our mind is busy or racing. Meditation can help you connect with the breath and bring calmness to the mind.

Why do people with cancer meditate?
One of the main reasons people with cancer use meditation is to help them feel better.

Meditation can reduce anxiety and stress. It might also help control problems such as:

pain
difficulty sleeping
tiredness
feeling sick
high blood pressure

It can take time to feel the benefits of meditation. At first, you might feel more stressed as you see how busy your mind is. But if you keep trying to meditate for even a short time each day, you will find that it gets easier. Gradually, you'll feel calmer and less stressed. Regular practice is the key.

How do you practice meditation?
What you do depends on the type of meditation you practice.

Meditation can be guided by:

People who have training in practicing and teaching meditationdoctors and nurses psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals yoga teachers
You can do it yourself at home, but it is best to get a trained meditation teacher to teach you how to do it first. This may only take a few 20- to 30-minute sessions. Or it can take longer, depending on the type of meditation.
You can learn some types of meditation in groups or by listening to or watching meditation tutorials.

Meditation is a process that is refined and developed over months or years. It can sometimes be difficult to keep it up, so it helps to have ongoing support from the person who teaches your meditation.

Most types of meditation involve finding a quiet place away from the distractions of everyday life. You can sit or lie quietly. It’s important to make sure that you feel comfortable, but in a position that allows you to pay attention and be aware.

Your teacher will usually encourage you to allow thoughts and feelings to come and go without trying to push them away or stop them. This may seem very difficult to do at first. Most people say it gets easier with practice.

In some types of meditation, you say a phrase or word out loud. Or you may have an object you can bring your mind back to, such as a candle or your breath. This helps you to focus your mind on the present moment.

Most teachers recommend that you practice the meditation for at least 15 to 20 minutes twice a day to get the best results. But even 5 minutes once a day is better than nothing, especially if you are feeling ill or finding it hard to concentrate. A shorter period every day is better than a longer time every so often.