The importance of integrating mind-body practices into lung cancer treatment is to gain an understanding that our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and attitudes can affect and shape how our bodies work. Mind-body practices can make a significant difference to people with cancer. And, as a rapidly growing body of research tells us, these practices can reduce stress and enhance immunity, enhance quality of life, and perhaps even increase the length of survival.

There is not one right way to integrate the natural state of mind, body, and spirit. Our daily activities and five senses are doorways to be explored: listening to a piece of music, moving in a sports activity, tasting food that is eaten. The choices are endless. To experience a mind-body connection is not about a “right” choice or an “expert’s choice,” but about learning how to skillfully apply awareness to any mind-body method or to any enjoyable activity.

There exists in each one of us an inherent wisdom, a natural state in which the mind is clear and calm while the body rests in a soft, relaxed manner. Since this is a natural state, not one that is artificially created, it is not lost when cancer or any other serious, chronic, or even temporary illness is diagnosed. When this peaceful state of mind and body is brought back into the present moment, your connection to peace and well-being can be restored.

Although this peaceful state cannot be lost, it can be hidden from view. Just as the sun is always in the sky, it can be covered over by clouds. In some sense we can be separated from serenity and basic healthiness by thoughts and emotions as we react to life’s experiences.

Many of the thoughts that can disrupt our peacefulness are what are called “discursive thoughts.” Discursive thoughts can be described as those thoughts that just come into our mind automatically whether we intend them to or not, distracting us from what we are doing or thinking about already. These thoughts can automatically come up anytime and fill our mind and awareness throughout the day and night. For example, when you are on the way to treatment, thoughts about your arrival in the clinic and the therapy you will receive may be occupying your imagination, not only interfering with what could otherwise be a restful or pleasant moment, but also distracting your wakefulness and attention, making the moment less pleasant and possibly even dangerous as you are distracted from the road.

This process of our mind grasping and clinging to discursive thoughts (or thoughts that just pop up in our mind) can keep us from experiencing the present moment and the connection to peace. Mind-body practices can help to liberate us from distracting thoughts and bring us safely back to the present moment. Finding this natural state within us, especially in difficult and emotional times, feels like coming home and finding comfort and peace in our surroundings.

An example of what some cancer patients say happens when they let discursive thoughts take over:

While waiting in the doctor’s office for an appointment to review test results, Mary’s mind begins racing about what the doctor is going to say, how information will be conveyed, and what the tests will reveal. These negative thoughts begin to automatically arise as she sits in the waiting room. If Mary’s discursive thoughts take a negative turn, she begins to lose a feeling of being well and calm in the moment. As the fantasy escalates, so too does Mary’s sense of threat, anxiety, or depression. By the time she gets in to see the doctor, she is even more nervous and unable to concentrate or hear what is being discussed. She is so anxious that she forgets to talk about important worries and concerns about her treatment.

A sense of hopelessness created by Mary worrying negatively about the future begins to affect her breathing and heart rate, eliciting the flight or fight response—even though there is no real danger in the waiting room. Through such a process of negative thinking, Mary’s mind and body become disconnected and emotional and stressful reactions arise unnecessarily. The possibility of enjoying any richness of the moment is lost. Ultimately, Mary loses control, and in doing so, becomes afraid and despairing at a time when she would rather feel more in control.

On the other hand, once Mary learns to recognize when these disruptive and disturbing thoughts are taking over, she can use imagery and relaxation to stop the thoughts from upsetting her. Regardless of the outcome of her visit with the doctor, Mary can still experience a few moments of calm and peace in her life if she chooses to do so.

Moments like these are often a part of our everyday activities. Have you ever been reading a book and realized at the end of a sentence, paragraph, or page that you do not remember what you have just read? This means that your attention has drifted elsewhere and disruptive thoughts may be entering your mind. Another example is when you are taking a shower and planning ahead about where you will be going, not feeling the spray of the water as you wash. This is another lost moment without awareness. In any activity, our attention can be occupied by distracting thoughts of either a positive or negative nature. Oftentimes these thoughts have nothing to do with what we are doing in the present moment.

Experiencing the natural state of the mind-body connection proves that finding peace is possible in any moment, by anyone, regardless of living with lung cancer or any other disease. It is helpful, therefore, to receive some guidance or instruction regarding this experience. That accomplished, you can learn to enter into peacefulness and achieve a sense of well-being by pushing discursive or distracting thoughts aside and enjoying the present moment.

In this section, you will find practices that will help introduce experiences of wakeful relaxation and peace. We welcome you to explore these practices as yet another Patient Active tool to utilize during lung cancer treatment and recovery.

 “Finding peace is possible in any moment, by anyone, regardless of living with cancer or any other disease.”

—Gabriel Rocco, MA ©2001