Pain findings differed among psychological programs after breast cancer surgery
In breast cancer survivors, some psychological and mind-body programs were associated with pain reductions. The most studied mindfulness program showed no significant pain benefit; comparison conditions were not described in the abstract.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Several programs, including integrated yoga and selected relaxation or psychological therapies, reported statistically significant pain reductions after breast cancer surgery. Mindfulness-based stress reduction, the most frequently investigated program, did not show a significant pain-reduction effect. The review therefore gives a mixed picture, rather than supporting a blanket claim that these approaches relieve postoperative pain.
The abstract supplies no numerical pain effects, confidence intervals, comparator details or follow-up durations. The evidence also includes studies that were not randomized trials, limiting conclusions about treatment effects.
Programs should remain distinct
Mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy were separate interventions in this review. A reported pain reduction for one does not establish benefit for the other, even though both involve mindfulness.
Significance does not rank benefit
Some programs had statistically significant results, while the most studied mindfulness program did not. Without effect estimates and direct comparisons, these findings cannot show which approach provides the largest pain reduction or establish that an approach has no effect.
The original publication
Efficacy of Multimodal Psychological Interventions on Pain After Surgery in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.
Kennedy SKF, Sadeghi S, Raeisi Dehkordi S et al.
JCO Oncol Pract · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 40570265
- Record checked
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