Mindful Movement for Breast Cancer Survivors

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Breast Cancer
• Interventions: Behavioral: Mindful Movement Program

• Registration Number: NCT02619292
• Lead Sponsor: Saint John's Cancer Institute

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if participating in a Mindful Movement Program (MMP) (learning how to be mindful in one's movement), positively affects the body's immune functions improves mindfulness and reduces worries about cancer returning. All participants will be in this study about three months.

Detailed Description

Breast cancer survivors (BCS) may experience psychological and physical effects long after treatment is over. Some research shows that practicing mindfulness, and movement types of activities such as qi gong or yoga may lead to improvements in emotional and physical well-being, including improved immune function. Immune function can be negatively affected by stress and worry, and this has an unknown effect on the risk of cancer recurrence. Psychological and physical interventions that help enhance an individual's wellbeing and reduce stress and worry may have a positive influence on immune function and in turn, reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. While there is limited research in this area, and none with dance therapy, little attention has been given to older BCS. However, understanding of immune function suggests that older women may be the best group to target for such interventions. Previous research with BCS age 50 or older who participated in a 12-week program combining mindfulness practice with dance/movement therapy (Mindful Movement Program) demonstrated positive effects: participants were more mindful in their day-to-day living and had less worry about the cancer coming back. Participants also reported through focus groups that the Mindful Movement Program (MMP) had improved their overall well-being. No laboratory tests of the body's immune response to MMP were included.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-11
• Study First Submitted: 2015-11-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2015-11-30
• Study First Posted: 2015-12-02
• Primary Completion: 2017-06
• Study Completion: 2017-06
• Status Verified: 2017-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-07-12
• Last Update Posted: 2017-07-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

• diagnosed at age 50 or older with stage 0-III disease
• 6 months or more since completion of primary breast cancer treatment
• have a medical release from their physician
• English-speaking
• not pregnant
• no weekly practice of yoga, qi gong, tai chi, dance/movement therapy, or mindfulness meditation practice

Exclusion Criteria

• Males with breast cancer

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Mindful Movement Program	Mindful Movement Program	Mindfulness is "moment-to-moment, present-centered, purposive non-judgmental awareness"; Dance/movement therapy is a multidimensional approach that integrates body awareness, expression and acceptance to facilitate physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual integration of individuals

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Immune markers	18 weeks	Improvement in serum markers of immune cell phenotype at week 18

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mindful Movement Intervention Experience	18 weeks	Improvement in mindfulness attitude as measured on Perceived Exertion Scale (PES)
Mindful Movement Intervention Experience - Mindfulness Intention	18 weeks	Improvement in mindfulness attitude as measured on Mindfulness Intention (modified from Segal, 1-item)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Margie Petersen Breast Center at Providence Saint John's Health Center; 🇺🇸 Santa Monica, California, United States