Purpose: Cancer diagnoses and treatments may have short- and long-term negative effects on the affected individual’s health status and wellbeing. This study assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of an "The Work" meditation technique (developed by Byron Katie) in improving psychological and physical wellbeing in breast cancer survivors.
Methods: Twenty-nine breast cancer survivors participated in a prospective pilot clinical trial consisting of 12 weeks of "The Work" meditation program. Sleep quality, level of fatigue and breast cancer health-related quality of life assessment was done once before the intervention and again one week after its completion. The intervention consisted of weekly 3.5-hour group sessions and an individual session with an assistant for a minimum of 60 minutes per week.
Results: "The Work" intervention has been found to be implementable in women who survived breast cancer, with 82.75% completing the program and no adverse effects reported at any time. "The Work" meditation technique significantly improved sleep quality and levels of fatigue as well as physical, social, familial, emotional and functional wellbeing. The sense of coherence scores were not affected by the intervention.
Conclusions: "The Work" meditation technique was an effective tool for improving both the physical and mental health of breast cancer survivors. The encouraging results of this pilot study highlight the beneficial effects of this intervention for this population and warrant further investigation in randomized controlled trials.
