The Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Disease Perception, Body Image, and Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Currently, the prevalence of breast cancer and its debilitating consequences are increasing, causing adverse personal, family, and social effects in patients. Therefore, patients with breast cancer should try to reduce the injuries described above through various treatment methods. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on disease perception, body image, and fear of cancer recurrence in women with breast cancer. Methods: This applied study was designed based on a pre-test and post-test. The study included 30 participants, 15 test groups (15 people), and 15 control groups (15 people). A test group was used for MBCT, while the other was not exposed to the intervention. Eight 90-minute sessions were held weekly for the test group for two months. The research tools included the Broadbent Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory Questionnaire (FCRIQ). Finally, the resulting data were analyzed by SPSS software Version 25. Results: The statistical test of covariance analysis showed that the MBCT method significantly affects disease perception, body image, and fear of disease recurrence in women with breast cancer (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, the MBCT method can help manage breast cancer in women. Therefore, breast cancer patients can improve their quality of life and life expectancy by learning this treatment method.