Mindfulness and Cancer: Finding Balance on the Healing Journey
- Nadine Anderson
- Oct 2, 2025
- 3 min read
October is here—that gentle turning of the season which also brings Breast Cancer Awareness Month into sharp relief. It’s a time to reflect, to witness, and to honour every life touched by breast cancer—those living with it, those who’ve lost someone to it, and those caring behind the scenes.
As we mark this month, I want to share not only what the numbers tell us, but also how mindfulness can walk beside us through the fear, the waiting, the treatments—and sometimes, the grief.
Current Global Picture
In 2022, there were around 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed globally.
About 670,000 deaths occurred from breast cancer in that same year.
On average, one in 20 women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
If current trends continue, by 2050 we’re looking at approximately 3.2 million new cases per year and 1.1 million deaths annually.
The burden is not evenly shared: countries with lower Human Development Index (HDI) carry a proportionally larger share of mortality, due to delays in diagnosis and access to treatment.
Why Mindfulness Matters
Cancer—breast cancer included—is not only a physical illness. It ripples out. It touches our mental wellbeing, our emotions, our relationships, our sense of self, our hopes and fears. Mindfulness does not promise to erase those ripples, but it can give us tools to move through them with greater presence, kindness, and clarity.
Here’s how mindfulness can help:
Anchoring in the moment – bringing attention back to the here & now, easing overwhelm in waiting rooms or during treatment.
Working with fear and uncertainty – allowing space to observe fear and “what-if” thoughts without being swept away.
Cultivating compassion for self – meeting guilt, sadness or anger with gentleness, instead of judgement.
Reducing stress and improving coping – helping sleep, easing anxiety, and offering steadiness amidst fatigue and treatment side-effects.
Supporting carers and loved ones – offering tools for resilience and balance for those who stand alongside.
A Personal Story
One participant who joined our mindfulness sessions during her breast cancer treatment shared:
“When I was first diagnosed, I felt as if the ground had been pulled away from under me. Everything was frightening and uncertain. In the mindfulness sessions, I found something I hadn’t realised I needed: a way to pause. Learning to notice my breath, or simply to sit quietly with how I was feeling, gave me a thread of steadiness. It didn’t take away the cancer, or the treatment, or the fear—but it gave me moments of calm that I could lean into. That made all the difference.”
Her words echo what many discover: mindfulness cannot change the diagnosis, but it can soften how we meet it, bringing a sense of courage, presence, and compassion to even the most difficult days.
Reflections for This Month
Awareness is powerful, but kindness is essential.
Listening deeply—to ourselves and others—matters.
Small steps, like a few mindful breaths, can be anchors in turbulent days.
Behind every statistic is a person, and each life matters.
A Simple Practice for Mindfulness and Cancer
Try this today:
Sit or lie comfortably.
Bring your attention to the breath, noticing each inhale and exhale.
When thoughts or worries arise, gently guide your attention back to the breath.
Rest here for a few minutes, softening a little with each out-breath.
This simple act can bring a sense of steadiness into your day.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds us of urgency, hope, research, and community. Mindfulness reminds us of our aliveness, and our capacity to meet what is here with compassion.
If you or someone you love is affected by cancer, know you are not alone. To continue exploring mindfulness and cancer, please follow the link, we would love to hear from you.