Tai Chi May Ease Cancer-Related Fatigue and Pain

Kathleen Doheny
September 28, 2026J Clin Oncol. 2026;:JCO2501967.

Tai chi and mindfulness practices may help patients with cancer get some relief from fatigue, pain, and sleep problems, a new clinical trial suggests.

The study, of nearly 600 participants, found that both practices lessened fatigue and the impact of pain on daily life vs a waitlist control. Tai chi also boosted sleep quality to a small degree.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, come from a partially randomized trial — where participants were allowed to choose either tai chi or mindfulness practices, if they had a preference.

Both interventions appeared helpful, though the effects on symptoms were generally mild, said senior researcher Linda E. Carlson, PhD, a professor of oncology at the University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Source: Medscape