Dr. Bisk is the Clinical Coordinator for Counseling Services at the Saint Vincents Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York. She is coordinating the Center's new series of Qigong classes for patients and caregivers beginning January 11, 2001.

What is the origin and history of qigong?

Qigong is an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is over 3500 years old. It is a very broad category which encompasses hundreds of different forms of practice that involve focused concentration (meditation), controlled breathing and movement. Tai Chi, for example, is a specific form of qigong. Qigong is a more generic concept, in which qi means vital energy and gong refers to movement. In Chinese medicine, maintaining a smooth and balanced flow of vital energy (qi), is considered a necessary balance and health is the essence of qigong, which literally means "energy work." It has to do with the integration of vital energy through meditation, breath and movement. Balancing or harmonizing qi within the body and between the individual and his or her environment are fundamental concepts of Chinese medicine. Qigong deals with individuals working with their own energy flow.

How has qigong been used to treat disease? How is it incorporated into cancer treatment?

The form we are using is very gentle and is integrally tied to Chinese healing practices. I thought it would be interesting to work with qigong (as opposed to yoga, which we also offer). Tai Chi, which is a specific form of qigong, has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention against osteoporosis. It increases strength and balance, but it is also a weight-bearing exercise. A lot of women who are in treatment for breast and ovarian cancer are concerned about osteoporosis, both because chemotherapy can deteriorate bone density and because they may not be eligible for hormone replacement therapy.

Here at SVCCC, our class is also open to members of the patients' support system. We are offering more services for caretakers. Wellness activities can involve patients and caretakers together in the same classes. I think it's important that we offer activities that are a less direct confrontation than having to talk about the illness. Body work is very therapeutic. Anyone who has undergone treatment for cancer, or has been diagnosed with cancer, has to deal with re-establishing a healthy relationship with his or her body. There is often a feeling that your body has betrayed you, in addition to the challenges to body image and body integrity presented by surgery as well as invasive treatment, which directly affect your relationship with your body. Our goal is to help patients (and their significant supportive others) establish and maintain overall well being. We aren't claiming that qigong will cure cancer. With chemotherapy, a patient may go through several cycles, all of which will be quite toxic. The body needs time to eliminate those toxins and rejuvenate itself. The healthier the overall condition of the body, the more efficiently it will operate during these cycles. Eating well and exercising promote overall health, improve circulation, promote the more efficient elimination of toxins, maintain muscle tone, increase energy, and improve emotional well being.

How has SHARE been involved with creating this new series of classes?

The psychosocial team at SVCCC has developed close working alliances with several outside agencies to provide an extensive array of support services in a seamless manner. Examples included the peer-to-peer support groups conducted at the SVCCC in conjunction with the International Myeloma Foundation, a prostate cancer group held weekly which is facilitated by MaleCare, and an Artist-in-Residence program which we are developing with the Creative Center for Women with Cancer. Many of our wellness programs are provided in conjunction with the organization called SHARE.

SHARE is a large, successful organization for women with breast and ovarian cancer. They offer an extensive array of support services in the New York metropolitan area, in terms of peer-to-peer support groups, wellness activities, and educational programs. We were able to obtain funding for our wellness activities by co-sponsoring a very successful fundraiser with SHARE. The substantial funds obtained were divided between the Community Outreach services of Saint Vincents to provide screening mammograms and clinical breast exams to low-income women and the support services provided at Saint Vincents Comprehensive Cancer Center. Our qigong classes will be held twice a month for three months, and, if successful, we will continue the classes. SHARE has also paid for our weekly yoga classes this past summer, which will begin again on February 26, 2001.

What results have you seen when people practice qigong? Can you share any success stories for cancer patients?

Working with Qigong is very new to us so we don't have specific stories to report yet. I do know many patients who have had outstanding results with yoga and with dance and other kinds of movement. I like to frame my expectations in terms of what is attainable by most people. This isn't necessarily a cure, but we expect to see stories of improved quality of life. Qigong can help people maintain a positive sense of themselves through a difficult experience. I don't think we have enough evidence to make claims of a direct one-to-one correlation between disease process and certain forms of mind-body medicine. I think the research is out there, but it will be a while before we have concrete results. There is a program in China where dramatic results are being demonstrated, but I am more conservative at this point. I do think that we can demonstrate improvements in quality of life and pain management. Qigong will also provide social interaction for patients.