Cancer patients should be offered relaxing yoga and meditation classes on the NHS, doctors say

CANCER patients should be offered relaxing yoga and meditation classes on the NHS, doctors say.

The anxiety-busting activities are believed to increase the effectiveness of treatment.

Cancer patients should be offered relaxing yoga and meditation classes on the NHS, doctors say

Lab tests have shown stress hormones interfere with some drugs’ ability to target tumours.

And now early stage trials in patients suggest relieving this tension can have real world benefits.

Dr Melanie Flint, who is leading the work at the University of Brighton, said: “We are seeing effects.”

The cancer researcher will discuss her findings at the British Science Festival in the city next week.

But speaking ahead of the event, she said: “We would like to see every patient diagnosed with cancer having their stress recognised and offered options for stress reduction.

“You can reduce stress in many ways, such as with mindfulness, yoga or exercise.

The anxiety-busting activities are believed to increase the effectiveness of treatment

“It would not only have general psychological impacts but could improve the way the treatments work.”

Dr Flint said beta blocking drugs, which can also reduce stress, may work as an alternative.

She added: “Being diagnosed with cancer is a very stressful time anyway but our findings suggest an elevation of stress hormones may affect a patient’s response to chemotherapy.”

Dr Catherine Pickworth, from Cancer Research UK, said: “This study adds to our understanding of the role that particular hormones could play in the way cancers respond to some treatments.

“It could open up avenues for new approaches that increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy.”