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THERAPIES & TRADITIONS · GUIDE

Meditation and Mindfulness in Cancer Care: Evidence and Guidelines

What oncology guidelines and reviews say about mindfulness and meditation for anxiety, mood, fatigue and quality of life during and after cancer treatment, and what they do not show.

Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.

Back to Meditation and Mindfulness

Living with cancer and its treatment can bring anxiety, low mood, tiredness and trouble sleeping. Mindfulness and meditation are studied as supportive care, meaning help with symptoms and coping alongside cancer treatment. This page is information only. None of the sources below tests meditation as a treatment for the cancer itself, and it must never replace treatment your oncology team recommends. Labels used: established, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence.

What the guidelines say

The Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO) wrote guidance on integrative therapies for symptoms and side effects in breast cancer, which the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) endorsed in 2018. Among its recommendations, meditation is recommended for anxiety and stress, for depression and mood disorders, and to improve quality of life. [1]

A 2023 SIO-ASCO guideline for anxiety and depression in adults with cancer reviewed 110 studies (30 systematic reviews and 80 randomized trials). It recommends mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) for anxiety symptoms during treatment and after it, and for depression symptoms during treatment and after it. It also lists limits: risk of bias, non-standard programs, lack of diversity in study samples and a lack of active control groups. [2] Guideline recommendations are about symptoms, not about controlling cancer.

What reviews of trials found

3 findings · 2 supported · 1 limited or unclearThe colour follows the evidence label on each card.

  1. Anxiety, depression, cancer-related fatigue

    promising but limited

    36 studies (1,677 people): medium effects; against controls, anxiety and fatigue gains held 3 months, depression gain did not [3]

  2. Distress, fatigue, sleep, pain, mood (breast-cancer majority)

    promising but limited

    29 studies (3,274 people) reported reductions; most participants were women with breast cancer [4]

  3. Effect in other cancer types

    insufficient evidence

    Not clear: results may not be similar for other populations or cancer types [4]

The 2022 meta-analysis combined 20 non-randomized studies with 16 randomized trials, which makes the evidence weaker than trials alone, and rated the risk of bias as low to moderate. [3] Participants cannot be blinded to a mindfulness course, and many comparisons are with usual care, so benefits for self-reported symptoms may partly reflect expectation and support from the group.

Different programs

Studies mix MBSR, MBCT and Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery, a program adapted for people with cancer. [3] Details on what the eight-week course involves are in MBSR, MBCT and structured programs.

Frequently asked questions

Can meditation treat cancer?

No source here shows that. The guidelines and reviews look at symptoms such as anxiety, mood and fatigue. [1][2]

Do cancer guidelines recommend mindfulness?

Yes, for anxiety and depression symptoms during and after treatment in the 2023 SIO-ASCO guideline. [2]

Does it help fatigue?

A 2022 review found medium effects on cancer-related fatigue that lasted at least three months compared with controls. [3]

Does it work for every cancer type?

Unknown. Most participants in the main reviews were women with breast cancer. [4]

Is it safe during treatment?

It is usually low-risk, but check with your oncology team and see a clinician if practice makes you distressed. [4]

More details: evidence, limits and cautions

The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.

Safety and who should check first
Mindfulness is usually considered low-risk, but about 8 percent of participants in a review reported a negative effect, most often anxiety or depression. [4] NICE notes that group mindfulness may be difficult for people with intense or highly distressing thoughts or who find focusing on the body difficult. [5] See difficulties and distressing experiences. Tell your oncology team what you plan to try, and ask about hospital or community support programs. Mental-health support matters here: in the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free and available 24/7 by call, text or chat. [6]

Related pages: MBSR for pain, cancer and chronic illness, meditation for stress, sleep and anxiety, yoga evidence by outcome, talking with a health professional and stress safety and when to get help.

References
  1. Lyman GH, et al. Integrative Therapies During and After Breast Cancer Treatment: ASCO Endorsement of the SIO Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
  2. Carlson LE, et al. Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2023. Read 2026-10-22.
  3. The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cancer-related fatigue in oncology patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
  4. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety. Read 2026-10-22.
  5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222), Recommendations. Published 29 June 2022. Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
  6. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 988lifeline.org. Read 2026-10-22. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.