A qualitative (feasibility) study of mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) for the treatment of fatigue, anxiety and depression in women with breast cancer in Southampton

Cancer related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms experienced by those with persistent or advanced cancer and may be related to treatments, the cancer itself, menopausal symptoms and anxiety and depression. Fatigue has been poorly investigated and there are few effective treatments. Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to help people manage chronic pain and fatigue and also anxiety and depression. Although MBSR has been investigated in women with early stage breast cancer it has not been explored in advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

The University of Southampton was awarded funding for around £250k by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK), Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) programme to conduct a study investigating the effects of mindfulness based stress reduction on the fatigue anxiety and depression in women with metastatic breast cancer. The study, which is hosted by the Primary Care and Population Sciences department of the Faculty of Medicine, has a core team comprising of two co-principal investigators, Professor George Lewith and Dr Gerry Leydon and a Research Fellow, Dr Caroline Eyles.  The study which was designed, in collaboration with The Haven, is a mixed method feasibility study which is assessing the impact of MBSR in this population of women and the feasibility of conducting a possible future randomised controlled trial. Patients, who are being identified as eligible by their oncologists and recruited onto the study, are taking part in an 8-week mindfulness course taught by Dr Caroline Hoffman the Clinical and Research Director of The Haven, a collaborator on the study. A total of three MBSR courses will be taught in Southampton in 2011.