Effect of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction on Immune Function, Quality of Life and Coping In Women Newly Diagnosed with Early Stage Breast Cancer
This investigation used a non-randomized controlled design to evaluate the effect and feasibility of a mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) program on immune function, quality of life (QOL), and coping in women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Early stage breast cancer patients, who did not receive chemotherapy, self-selected into an 8-week MBSR program or into an assessment only, control group. Outcomes were evaluated over time. The first assessment was at least 10 days after surgery and prior to adjuvant therapy, as well as before the MBSR start-up. Further assessments were mid-MBSR, at completion of MBSR, and at 4-weeks post MBSR completion. Women with breast cancer enrolled in the control group (Non-MBSR) were assessed at similar times. At the first assessment (i.e., before MBSR start), reductions in peripheral blood mononuclear cell NK cell activity (NKCA) and IFN gamma production with increases in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 production and plasma cortisol levels were observed for both the MBSR and Non-MBSR groups of breast cancer patients. Over time women in the MBSR group re-established their NKCA and cytokine production levels. In contrast, breast cancer patients in the Non-MBSR group exhibited continued reductions in NKCA and IFN gamma production with increased IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 production. Moreover, women enrolled in the MBSR program had reduced cortisol levels, improved QOL, and increased coping effectiveness compared to the Non-MBSR group. In summary, MBSR is a program that is feasible for women recently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and the results provide preliminary evidence of beneficial effects of MBSR on immune function, QOL, and coping effectiveness.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook
Mindfulness is about being fully aware of whatever is happening in the present moment, without filters or the lens of judgment. It can be brought to any situation. Put simply, mindfulness consists of cultivating awareness of the mind and body and living in the here and now. While mindfulness as a practice is historically rooted in ancient Buddhist meditative disciplines, it’s also a universal practice that anyone can benefit from. And indeed, being present and mindful is an important concept in many spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism.
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Today mindfulness has expanded beyond its spiritual roots and even beyond psychology and mental and emotional well-being. Physicians are prescribing training in mindfulness practice to help people deal with stress, pain, and illness….In the words of Walpola Rahula, author of the Buddhist classic “What the Buddha Taught,” “[Mindfulness] is simply observing, watching, examining. You are not a judge but a scientist.”
It’s also available as an online GoogleBook
Justice Canada wants to ease workers’ stress: Buddhist-style ‘mindfulness’ sessions planned
Stressed-out employees at Justice Canada in Ottawa will soon be able to seek relief in a taxpayer-funded program that uses the Buddhist concept of mindfulness to help them cope with personal and workplace pressures.
The department invited bids recently for two nineweek “mindfulness-based stress reduction” sessions designed to help up to 40 public servants “learn to relate more consciously and compassionately to the challenges of work and personal life.”
According to Justice Canada’s request for proposals, the program will help employees “deal more effectively with difficult thought and emotions that can keep you feeling stuck in everyday life.
“The practice of mindfulness can support you to work with and understand the nature of your thought and perceptions so that you can take control and responsibility for your health and well-being,” the document says.
The maximum budget for each of the two sessions is $11,000 plus GST. The request for proposals gives the depart-ment the option of adding four more sessions later this year, which would increase the cost by up to $44,000.
Asked why the program was necessary, a departmental spokesman said the need for effective tools to manage stress and promote mental health in the workplace is “widely recognized. The beneficial effects of this program are well documented.”
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) was founded in 1979 by Jon KabatZinn, a medical professor at the University of Massachusetts. According to the web-site mindfulnet.org, 18,000 people have since completed MBSR programs.
It’s now used in hospitals, schools, courtrooms, prisons and boardrooms around the world. Corporate disciples include Apple, Yahoo!, Google, Starbucks and Procter & Gamble.
“Obviously, we’re not opposed to programs that could improve workers’ health and well-being,” she said. “But we’re also mindful of the fact that prevention programs seem to have the most significant impact on people’s ability to work in environments that are busy and stressful.”
Justice Canada certainly qualifies as one of those, she said. “I know that it’s a stressful work environment. Some of these files that people are juggling are very high-profile files that have really significant ramifications if people miss deadlines or screw up.”
Wellness programs such as MBSR focus on the individual, she said, rather than addressing the workplace environment that gives rise to the stress.
Oz Buddhist leader complains of Christian biasness in Victorian schools
Canberra, Apr 10 (ANI): Buddhist community leader Dr Sue Smith has complained of “Christian bias” in religious education in Victoria, Australia, saying that her group could have expanded to hundreds of schools if it had access to government funding.
The issue led to huge debate after a media report revealed that the Education Department was forcing schools to host Christian religious education with or without their consent, The Age reports.
It took a new turn last week when state Education Minister Martin Dixon granted 200,000 dollars in extra funding to Christian religious education provider ‘Access Ministries’ to improve its training.
The paper quoted Dr Smith as saying that despite offering Buddhist education in 14 Victorian schools, they were not getting the advantages that are usually being enjoyed by the Christians.
“There is definitely a funding bias … Ours is funded by volunteers and donations,” she said, adding that is they had the resources, “I am confident that we could be in hundreds of schools”.
However, Dixon said that he had no intention of reviewing the system despite being condemned for it.
The move sparked anger yesterday from groups representing other religions, who said Dixon had not consulted them.
“We were requesting a meeting with the minister and have not even received a reply,” Anna Halaffof of the Religion, Ethics and Education Network Australia, which promotes religious tolerance and respect, said.
Scott Hedges, a parent involved with the “Fairness in Religions in School” grassroots campaign, said that the Christianity taught in his daughter’s Hawthorn school was missionary in nature, adding: “The only difference between my daughter’s class and an African village to these people is that we have cleaner water and shoes.” (ANI)
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The Buddhist Path 