IMMUNE EFFECTS OF RELAXATION DURING CHEMOTHERAPY FOR OVARIAN-CANCER

Background: Psychological interventions, such as relaxation training, have been applied to strengthen resistance to disease. There is eviden ce that relaxation can modify immune parameters in healthy populations and in chemotherapy naive cancer patients. Methods: In this study, 22 patients receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer were allocated to relaxation training with a clinical psychologist or to a control group . After 2 months' training, blood was sampled 2 days before chemothera py in the patients' homes, and at the hospital prior to treatment. Res ults: On average, the intervention group showed higher lymphocyte coun ts, and a tendency to higher white blood cell numbers as compared to t he control group. No significant effects were found in proliferative r esponses to mitogen and natural killer cell activity after interventio n. Relaxation training did not modify the magnitude of changes in immu ne variables between home samples and at the hospital in anticipation of treatment. Conclusion: The study suggests that relaxation training can positively affect immune parameters in cancer patients, even if tr aining is performed during myelosuppressive therapy.