Coyne: Is mindfulness training the new “gateway drug” to quack breast cancer treatments?

[Bob]

Coyne's latest blog...

Is mindfulness training the new “gateway drug” to quack breast cancer treatments?
James Coyne
June 8th
https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/20...o-improve-immune-function-in-cancer-patients/

Here's the beginning of the blog...

Has mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) treatment become the equivalent of a “gateway drug” in cancer patients who go on to access a full range of unproven and disproven cancer treatments? I discuss this possibility in this edition of Quick Thoughts.

Here’s my argument:

• Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is widely promoted as a nonpharmacological “wonder drug” changing the brain and improving immune function.

• Belief in the power of MBSR over cancer has replaced discredited beliefs about psychotherapy and support groups bringing the power of the mind to bear in “fighting” cancer.

• MBSR groups are now offered through newly renamed “integrative cancer centers” which offer a full range of unproven and discredited treatments.

• The seeming scientific status of health claims of MBSR lends support to the claims of integrative cancer centers that they have a modern scientific basis for treatments developed on the basis of traditional Chinese medicine.

• Patients’ acceptance of exaggerated claims about the science behind MBSR leads to false confidence in other claims of integrative cancer centers that unproven treatments are actually evidence-based.

• Once engaged at integrative cancer centers, women with advanced breast cancer are particularly likely receive a full range of services, which can consume time and money, but also delay or become alternatives to proven treatments.

• MBSR can thus be a nonpharmacological “gateway drug” into an alternative pathway of cancer care in which unproven treatments are adopted by patients and even come to replace conventional, proven medicine.

 

[Large Donner]

Noel Edmonds in Twitter row after claims that electronic box 'tackles cancer'
Ad watchdog ‘urgently’ investigating tweets, as presenter causes further outrage by suggesting patient’s cancer may have been caused by ‘negative attitude’

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jun/07/noel-edmonds-in-twitter-row-after-claims-that-
electronic-box-tackles-cancer

 

[wastwater]

Are these todays treatment options think better or a magic box.

 

[IreneF]

Stress reduction is undoubtably a good idea when you've gotten a cancer diagnosis, but it's not going to cure cancer. It does set you up for self-blame, however, and even victim-blaming by others.

Plus places like this:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cancer-ctca-idUSBRE9250L820130306
Which offer so-called integrative cancer care, but are really operating as integrative ATMs for the owners.

 

[Dichotohmy]

Stress reduction does undoubtedly have a place in cancer treatment, in the sense that it's best for the patient to rest and focus on healing instead of worrying. This is on the presumption that worrying will interfere with resting, not on anxiety precipitating somatic conditions.

Even though its impossible to quantify, say there's a 5% improvement in prognosis by the patient applying stress reduction techniques that let him or her enjoy a state more conducive to healing. That would be a 5% worth persuing. Where stress reduction techniques become adsurd is when one assumes a these techniques are bonafied treatment that can take up the other 95% of the prognosis.

Thankfully, stress reduction and other psychological techniques are throughly discredited as being able to cure cancer, and even though the article rightfully points out MBSR getting more popular for all kinds of conditions, including cancer, there hasn't been a paradigm shift to full absurdity that MBSR is seen as credibly curing cancer. At best MBSR plays a subtle and small role in improvement, but that small role coyld be worthwhile.