Breast Cancer Haven

• Research at the Haven
  • Research at the Haven
• Evaluation of the Breast Cancer Haven Programme
• Mindful Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR)
• Proposal to Support Delivery of the Cancer Reform Strategy
• Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW)
• Acupuncture Research Study
• Research Publications from Breast Cancer Haven
• Clinical Framework and Evidence Base
  • Clinical Framework and Evidence Base
• 1000 people Project - National Cancer Survivorship Initiative

Mindful Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR)

Mindful Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR)

MBSR is a stress reduction programme taught internationally to people with a wide range of health conditions. The programme, first developed by Professor Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre 30 years ago, is used world-wide for people with a variety of health problems. Whilst a few, very small, studies have been performed using MBSR with people with breast cancer, this study at BCH in London is the largest randomised controlled trial of its kind to be done in the world, evaluating the mood state, quality of life and well being in 240 women with breast cancer who have undertaken the MBSR programme.

This was the PhD study carried out by Dr Caroline Hoffman (Clinical Director and Research Co-ordinator at Breast Cancer Haven) in collaboration with the University of Southampton. MBSR is an 8-week programme to reduce stress with the cultivation of mindfulness as its core tool. Mindfulness can be described as bringing attention and awareness to present moment experience in a non-judgemental way. 229 participants completed questionnaires regarding quality of life, well-being and mood state. These showed significantly beneficial results for those participants who did MBSR compared to a control group. Results will be published in 2010.