Mind-Body Interventions for People With Cancer: Evidence, Innovation, and Implementation.

Many people with cancer experience persistent psychological and physical challenges such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, sleep problems, fear of recurrence, cognitive issues, and reduced quality of life. Mind-body interventions, which target the connection between mental and physical processes, are increasingly used alongside standard cancer care. This review examines evidence for interventions including mindfulness, yoga, tai chi, qigong, relaxation, hypnosis, music therapy, acupuncture, massage, and aromatherapy, as well as emerging approaches like psychedelic therapy and nature-based interventions. It summarizes target symptoms, treatment timing, and evidence quality, and calls for more rigorous research, understanding of mechanisms, and broader access across diverse populations and all stages of cancer care.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Many people with cancer (PWC) continue to experience persistent biopsychosocial and existential challenges across the cancer care continuum. Symptoms such as anxiety, depression, cancer-related fatigue and pain, sleep disturbance, fear of cancer recurrence, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life remain highly prevalent during and after treatment, underscoring the need for interventions that address both psychological and physiological dimensions of distress. Mind-body interventions encompass a diverse group of practices that explicitly target the bidirectional relationship between mental and physical processes and are increasingly incorporated into integrative oncology as adjuncts to standard care. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on mind-body interventions for improving biopsychosocial outcomes in adult PWC. We review guideline-recommended interventions including mindfulness-based interventions, yoga, tai chi and qigong, relaxation therapies, hypnosis, music therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, reflexology, and aromatherapy; as well as emerging modalities such as psychedelic-assisted therapy, biofield therapies, nature-based interventions, and mindfulness-based approaches for sexual dysfunction. For each intervention, we summarize target symptoms, treatment-phase considerations, and the quality and limitations of the supporting evidence. Finally, we discuss future directions with an emphasis on improving methodological rigor, elucidating mechanisms of action, expanding implementation and access, and extending research across diverse populations and all stages of cancer care, including survivorship and end-of-life contexts.