QIGONG FOR CANCER PATIENTS

You know what they say; "when life gives you lemons..."

I have cancer. Well, truth be told, I have a history of three cancers: Stage 0 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (still have it, but it's on the back burner), Melanoma in Situ (resolved), and Stage 3b Merkel Cell Carcinoma (acute, in treatment). 

I'm being very well cared for by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers.

I have amazingly supportive friends and family who look out after me, many are cancer survivors. And, I'm taking care of myself: diet, walks, naps (a lot of naps), sunshine (sunscreen PF 50 at least), paddle boarding and bicycling when I can (not enough), and Qigong. 

Yes, there are days when I'm incapacitated by fatigue. And yes, I have my "sad panda" days and think "this is too hard." 

A very dear Oncology Social Worker named Brendan called me out of the blue one day. We talked, he invited me to join a cancer patient support group. Game changer. 

The first meeting I attended, we all were given a sheet of paper with scribbly lines and a set of water colors to share with our neighbor. We started on our art project. I noticed a shift with other group members who had come in with bad news, or unexplained aches and pains. Having cancer, any new sensation, bodily function, a pimple can set off the red alert button. It seemed to me that two people in the group were having "sad panda" days. 

As we carried on painting, I saw "sad pandas" begin to interact freely, smile, laugh. Their eyes began to shine. Their voices began to sing. 

This "sad panda" went to my next meeting yesterday. I was fatigued and foggy headed because of treatments. I mentioned my observations of painting day. We had all changed our focus from our aches, pains, pimples, new diagnoses, to our paintings. Black scribbly lines turned into stained glass windows, the sun shining brightly through the panes. 

Yesterday Brendan gave us handouts to read about coping with cancer. "Taking care of your emotional well-being." 

• Keep your mind active.
• Have some quiet time. 
• Get physical.
• Stay connected. 
• Get some fresh air.
• Write in a journal. 
• Start a new hobby. 
• Speak with a professional. 

These sound familiar. I practice these ideas with, wait for it, Qigong. 

I had told Brendan that I practice Qigong for my own well-being and also with friends in parks. It didn't take any convincing that perhaps we should see if the group is interested on practicing some Qigong. Turns out they are. So here we go. 

Let's start from the beginning. I've excerpted this from an oncology nursing journal:

Qigong is a mind-body practice that originated in China nearly five millennia ago. It integrates movement, meditation, and breath regulation to improve physical and emotional health. The actions are slow, gentle, flowing, repetitious, and weight-bearing and can be adapted or practiced while sitting, standing, or walking. Qigong styles and forms vary widely, depending on the school of thought and philosophy.

Researchers conducting other systematic reviews involving patients with a range of cancers found improvements in fatigue and overall quality of life as well as positive effects on immune function, cortisol levels, and cancer-specific quality of life.

Developing strategies to improve fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, balance, and mood is critical to support the estimated 20 million U.S. cancer survivors expected by 2026. Based on current evidence, qigong appears to be a safe, noninvasive, and promising supportive approach for symptom management and enhanced quality of life. In contrast to other movement practices, the slow, controlled, and upright practice of qigong makes the modality accessible and safe to a wide range of performance levels. Because it is typically practiced in groups, qigong also provides psychosocial support.

Oncology Nursing Society, July 20, 2020

https://www.ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/07-2020/what-evidence-says-about-qigong-patients-cancer

I’ve attached a link to another blog post:  Qigong Practices for Cancer Patients which paints a picture of what a practice may look like. Practice videos will be attached to that page. 

During my cancer journey I've found resonance in four verbs: 

Heal, Restore, Strengthen, Enliven. 

• I look to the sun, the moon, the planets and the stars to heal. 
• I look to the tree tops and clouds to dream and restore. 
• I look to the earth and metals to ground and strengthen.
• I look to the mysterious depths, and to the movement of water to enliven. 

Peace and good health to you. Let's make lemonade.