Cancer patients experience a myriad of emotions before, during and after treatment. Emotional effects therapy, such as meditation, can help patients cope with their cancer in everyday life.

1. Benefits of Meditation and
Relaxation for Mesothelioma
Today’s Moderator:
Dana Nolan, MS LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor

2. What Is Meditation?
Meditation is the practice of concentrated
focus on a single point of reference.
Common areas of focus:
Breathing
Word or phrase (mantra)
Object
Sound
Movement
Attention and mindfulness
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3. How Do You Meditate?
Sit or lie down comfortably
Ensure a quiet and peaceful environment
Close your eyes and breathe regularly
Notice your breath flowing in and out
Focus your attention on the subject of your
meditation (sound, word, body sensation or
movement)
(877) 626-5916

4. Mindfulness Meditation
and Cancer
Research shows mindfulness meditation for
cancer patients promotes relaxation.
Some cancer patients prefer to focus their
meditation on a word such as “peace,”
“health,” “strength,” “love” or the name of
a higher power.
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5. What Is Relaxation?
 It has many definitions.
 The “relaxation response” is what we are usually
trying to achieve when we attempt to relax.
 In 1975, Dr. Herbert Benson wrote “The Relaxation
Response,” which describes the scientific benefits.
 It is the opposite of the “flight or fight” response
we feel when we are stressed or panicked.
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6. What Is Relaxation? (cont.)
A physical state of deep rest that changes a
person’s physical and emotional response to
a stressor.
When the relaxation response is activated,
we experience lower:
Blood pressure
Heart rate
Oxygen consumption
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7. How Can We Achieve the
Relaxation Response?
Relaxation Exercises:
Progressive muscle relaxation
Passive muscle relaxation
Deep diaphragmatic breathing
Guided imagery
Yoga and tai chi
Meditation
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8. How Can We Achieve the Relaxation
Response? (cont.)
Activities that utilize repetitive movements:
Knitting, needlepoint, coloring, painting,
fishing and walking
Quiet, passive and peaceful activities:
Sitting alone by a lake or at the ocean
Lying on a blanket in a park
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9. Find Your Own Way to Relax
Not all relaxation exercises work for
everyone.
If you don’t like the beach, you won’t find it
peaceful to sit there and watch the waves
crashing.
If you tend to manifest your stress more
physically, such as muscle tension, then
meditation or mindfulness may not be as
useful as muscle relaxation.
(877) 626-5916

10. Relaxation for Cancer Patients
The National Cancer Institute provides
information on relaxation for cancer patients.
Link shared in chat box: (www.cancer.gov/about-
cancer/coping/feelings/relaxation)
Many comprehensive cancer centers offer
relaxation or meditation classes for their
patients and caregivers.
(877) 626-5916

11. Research
Research conducted since the 1980s has
shown activities that promote relaxation
help cancer patients:
Improve sleep
Manage pain
Feel more at peace
Feel less stressed
(877) 626-5916

12. Contact Information
1-877-626-5916
(877) 626-5916
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