The purpose of this article is to (1) provide a comprehensive over view and 
discussion of mindfulness meditation and its clinical applicability in oncology 
and (2) report and critically evaluate the existing and emerging research on 
mindfulness meditation as an intervention for cancer patients. Using relevant 
keywords, a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Ovid was completed 
along with a review of published abstracts from the annual conferences sponsored 
by the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society and the 
American Psychosocial Oncology Society. Each article and abstract was critiqued 
and systematically assessed for purpose statement or research questions,
STUDY DESIGN: The search produced 9 research articles published in the past 5 
years and 5 conference abstracts published in 2004. Most studies were conducted 
with breast and prostate cancer patients, and the mindfulness intervention was 
done in a clinic-based group setting. Consistent benefits--improved 
psychological functioning, reduction of stress symptoms, enhanced coping and 
well-being in cancer outpatients--were found. More research in this area is 
warranted: using randomized, controlled designs, rigorous methods, and different 
cancer diagnoses and treatment settings; expanding outcomes to include quality 
of life, physiological, health care use, and health-related outcomes; exploring 
mediating factors; and discerning dose effects and optimal frequency and length 
of home practice. Mindfulness meditation has clinically relevant implications to 
alleviate psychological and physical suffering of persons living with cancer. 
Use of this behavioral intervention for oncology patients is an area of 
burgeoning interest to clinicians and researchers.