Receiving a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatment are significant life events. Few illnesses are more shocking or have such a far-reaching impact. Yet too often, there is little or no psychological support at the time of diagnosis, during treatment, or for those in recovery. Tackling this issue, Mindfulness and Cancer offers an accessible guide for mindfulness teachers, enabling them to reach ordinary people with cancer and teach them skills to help them turn towards difficult experiences, manage their thoughts and feelings and stay positive in the face of adversity. MBCT for Cancer is founded on a 'three circles' model, in which people move from suffering (involving trauma, rumination and avoidance), through mindful awareness (intention, coming back, turning towards and kindness) to a new state of presence and wellbeing. The book includes a range of brief, eyes-open practices that people with cancer can call on to help them navigate real-life moments in clinics, treatment rooms and at home.
Trish Bartley is a mindfulness teacher, trainer, supervisor and retreat leader who has been involved with MBCT since its earliest days. She is a founding member of the Centre for Mindfulness, Research and Practice (CMRP), Bangor University, where she taught on the mindfulness master's program for many years, leading the advanced teacher training module. Trish taught mindfulness to cancer patients in a local oncology unit in North Wales from 2001-2020, adapting and refining the 8-week MBCT programme specifically for the needs of cancer patients. She has also worked with local people in low and middle income urban and rural contexts in the UK and South Africa. In 2024, she co-founded an online mindfulness and cancer project that is designed to be international, accessible and affordable to all www.mindfulnessandcancer.com
Foreword by John Teasdale Introduction Part 1: Setting the Scene The Three Circles Model The Four Movements Part 2: The 8-week MBCT for Cancer Course Session 1: Automatic Pilot Session 2: Mind Wandering Session 3: Limits and Edges Session 4: Patterns of Reactivity Session 5: Gently Being with the Difficult Session 6: Thoughts Are Not Facts Session 7: Planning Ahead Session 8: Completing and Continuing Part 3: Mindfulness and Cancer Issues Brief practices and everyday mindfulness The mindfulness and cancer group Cancer, mindfulness and the body Balancing up the pleasant Cancer and trauma Inquiry and the MBCT for Cancer group Part 4: Considerations for Teachers Recruiting our Participants Orientation and When to Offer the Programme Taster Sessions and Adapting the Programme Self-Care and Support Some Parting Words
