ABSTRACT
The Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) program is appropriate for almost anyone diagnosed with cancer and their support persons, including those both on and off treatment and into survivorship and palliation. MBSR provided tools to allow patients to identify, consider and define ways of coping in order to provide relief from suffering. It was conceptualized as a training paradigm that used the mind-body connection to relieve emotional and physical suffering. From the outset, MBSR was designed as a model that could be adapted to more specific challenges of circumstances following principles of affectionate, openhearted friendliness. MBCR is an adaptation of MBSR in response to the unique constellation of challenges faced by cancer patients. The focus of MBCR is on training participants to develop a mindfulness meditation practice that enhances their capacity for coping through acceptance and improvements in emotion-focused coping, by learning strategies to deal with difficult emotions in uncontrollable situations.
