Cancer diagnosis and treatment create a lot to burden for patients and their caregivers and this may impart negatively on health, function, coping and quality of life of cancer patients. Assessing the distress of patients on both outpatients and inpatients is a positive step to take steadily in improving clinical outcomes of patients care on a regular basis. Distress has been defined as a multi-determined unpleasant emotional experience of a psychological nature which has cognitive, behavioural, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. This may interfere with the ability to cope effectively with cancer, its physical symptoms and its treatment. A substantial percentage of cancer patients suffer from psychosocial distress to severe mental disorders and psychosocial crisis during the course of the illness and cancer treatment. Several screening instruments have been used in assessing distress in cancer patients both during diagnosis and treatment of cancer such as distress thermometer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS), Brief Symptom Inventory and the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory. Distress Thermometer: I s a paper and pencil scale, which ranges from 0-10. Scores of 4 and above should have further evaluation. This instrument is made up of possible problems and these problems are practical, family, emotional, spiritual and physical challenges. If the patient ticks on any of the items under emotional, then other instruments such HADS and Zung Depression Rating Scale for more specific assessment will be used. All the patients should be screened for distress at their first visit and as clinically indicated. The importance of distress assessment on mental health of the cancer patients cannot be over emphasized.

In this presentation, I will introduce the audience to mindfulness and mindfulness meditation generally, then specifically in the context of coping with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. I will describe the Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) program developed in Canada, and some of the research that supports its efficacy for treating distress, anxiety and other common symptoms and treatment side-effects. I will review the specific content of the MBCR program with experiential demonstrations of some of the key program components and exercises, so that participants can experience them first-hand.

Participants will come away with knowledge of what mindfulness is, how it can be applied when working with people living with cancer, and some practical tips and exercises they can use.