Mindfulness in Endometrial and Cervical Cancer
Mindfulness in Endometrial and Cervical Cancer
Patients with endometrial cancer who will be undergoing surgery or patients with cervical
 cancer who will be treated with chemoradiation will be randomized to utilize the Headspace
 smartphone application or not prior to their anticipated treatment.
A diagnosis of cancer can be a major stress-inducing event. The prevalence of depression in
 patients diagnosed with cancer is estimated up to 16%. Practicing mindfulness is a
 cost-effective treatment which can also help manage treatment adverse effects and
 cancer-related symptoms.

 Even short exposure and practice of mindfulness exercises have demonstrated improved
 subjective and objective measurements of stress and anxiety with breast biopsies. Patients
 with breast cancer also have improved quality of life with mindfulness training. Self-guided
 mindfulness with smartphone applications, specifically the app Headspace, has been associated
 with positive benefits and ease of use in the general population and among cancer patients.

 A patient's inherent level of baseline mindfulness has been associated with lower pain scores
 following minimally invasive hysterectomy. This study did not specifically encourage practice
 of mindfulness exercises. Our own study of post-operative opiate usage in women following
 minimally invasive hysterectomy contains self-reported data of women using opiates to relax
 or help sleep. This suggests that mindfulness exercises may improve quality of life in these
 areas and thus reduce opiate usage. Patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for
 treatment of endometrial cancer were specifically chosen as a study cohort to build on our
 own data and that currently reported in the literature as well as the highest incidence of
 this cancer as a gynecologic malignancy. The second study cohort chosen was women with
 cervical cancer undergoing definitive treatment with chemo-sensitizing radiation given the
 significant endeavor required for complete treatment. Additionally, these women are often
 younger with the diagnosis of cervical cancer often being their first major medical
 diagnosis.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  New diagnosis of either 1) endometrial cancer undergoing surgery or 2) cervical cancer
 undergoing chemo-sensitizing radiation

 -  Access to a smartphone

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Non-English speaking

 -  No access to smartphone

 -  Current use of Headspace application