Posttreatment Use of Relaxation Training by Cancer Patients

Abstract

Fifty cancer patients who had been taught progressive muscle relaxation training (PMRT) to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy were sent anonymous questionnaires to determine whether they were continuing to use PMRT on their own after chemotherapy had ended. Thirty-four (68%) patients responded. Results confirmed that PMRT was effective in reducing the distress of chemotherapy; in addition, most (65%) patients continued to practice PMRT after chemotherapy had ended, and reported that they were using it for a wide variety of stress-related problems. These data suggest that patients with life-threatening illnesses can and will use self-directed relaxation as a general coping strategy for problems that are not specifically targeted upon during treatment.