An Oncology Mind-Body Medicine Day Care Clinic

Abstract

Introduction. Cancer diagnosis and treatment are often associated with physical and psychosocial impairments. Many cancer patients request complementary and alternative therapies such as mind-body medicine. Concept. The department of internal and integrative medicine at the Essen-Mitte Clinics offer a mind-body medicine day care clinic for cancer patients that is based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and the mind-body medicine cancer program of the Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute. The program encompasses mindfulness training, yoga, mindful exercise, nutrition, naturopathic self-help strategies, and cognitive restructuring. Cases. Two patients who had participated in the day care clinic program are presented here. One patient presented with anxiety and depression after recently diagnosed breast cancer and the other with psychological impairments as a result of multiple nevi excision after malignant melanoma surgery. Both patients improved in terms of anxiety and further psychological symptoms. Conclusions. The Essen-Mitte Clinics mind-body medicine day care clinic appears to alleviate psychological consequences of cancer and its treatment. Further studies and randomized controlled trials are necessary to confirm these results.

Integrative Oncology: Best of Both Worlds—Theoretical, Practical, and Research Issues

“…To deepen and consolidate the knowledge and skills acquired during their inpatient stay, patients are offered participation in an 11-week mind-body medicine day care clinic subsequent to their inpatient stay [34]. This program is open for but not limited to patients who underwent inpatient treatment at the Kliniken Essen-Mitte.…”

“…This program is open for but not limited to patients who underwent inpatient treatment at the Kliniken Essen-Mitte. So far, about 1500 cancer patients have participated in this program [34]. Based on the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Program developed by Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts [35, 36] and the mind-body medicine cancer program of the Benson-Henry Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard Medical School [37], the day care program integrates cognitive therapy, meditation, yoga, exercise training, nutritional lectures in a teaching kitchen, and self-care strategies (e.g., cupping massage [38], hydrotherapy).…”

Preventative and Personalized Approach to the Treatment of Malignant Melanoma: A Case Report.

“…In our patient's case, the use of naturopathic medicine, physiotherapy, exercise, optimal nutrition, and positive stress management have all played at least a subjective role in the quality of his life; it was important for him to establish a personalized treatment regime to alleviate stressors and improve his well-being. As anecdotal as one account remains, the psychological consequences of cancer treatment are well recognized, as is the utility of alternative medicines in alleviating this burden [14]. Synergistically, we recognize the efficacy of westernized, evidence-based medicine and alternative medicine in the holistic management of melanoma.…”

Effects of Qigong Training on Health‐Related Quality of Life, Functioning, and Cancer‐Related Symptoms in Survivors of Nasopharyngeal Cancer: A Pilot Study

“…All of them were recruited from hospitals [7, 8]. Newly diagnosed cancer patients and patients in the treatment stage could be more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological impairments than rehabilitated survivors of cancer [15]. Hence, they may benefit more from Qigong training in terms of improving QOL [7, 8].…”