From an earlier post on this website (April 2026), I’m excited to learn that the Eradicate Cancer Foundation is supporting the advancement efforts at Copoly.ai and its OncoSage diagnostic tool for early detection of lung cancer.
Related to that, I would like to express these thoughts about Mindfulness. With some years of practical experience backed by a formal MSc degree, I’ve been consulting with clients in the area of Mindfulness. I want to share how the “technology of the heart” can help one through the toughest part of a cancer journey — awaiting news from the diagnosis and enduring resultant after-effects. We know that while scientific lab tools can provide the “what”, Mindfulness can provide the “how” for living through the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis.
The legendary Jon Kabat-Zinn defines Mindfulness as paying attention — on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment. He teaches that patience is a form of wisdom. Think of a child trying to “help” a butterfly by breaking the caterpillar chrysalis early; by rushing the process, the butterfly never develops the strength to fly. Healing has its own rhythm, and patience helps us accept that without extra suffering. This isn’t just “feel-good” talk, it’s science!
Dr. Linda Carlson’s research found that cancer survivors who practiced Mindfulness maintained the length of their telomeres — the protective caps on our chromosomes that usually shorten under stress. If you are facing “scanxiety” while waiting for test results, try these simple exercises:
- Affect Labeling: Simply name your feeling (eg., “I feel scared”). This helps your “thinking brain” settle your “emotional brain”.
- Box Breathing: Inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold for four.
- Sensory Grounding: Focus on three things you can see and hear right now to pull your mind out of the “what-ifs”.
Early detection saves lives, but Mindfulness sustains them. Let’s take it one breath at a time!
J. Martinez in Metepec, Mexico / May 2026