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A Cancer Neurosurgeon's Advice on Breathing Through Hard News — and Why It Holds Up
A viral clip features Dr. Rahul Jandial, a cancer neurosurgeon, explaining why controlling your breathing is a first step when facing bad news. Here's the context on him and the underlying science.
Original commentary from the Cancer Explained editorial team.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
“According to world-renowned cancer neurosurgeon and neuroscientist, Dr. Rahul Jandial, who has treated over 15,000 patients, the first thing you should control isn't the situation. It's your breathing.”
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A clip from The Mel Robbins Podcast features Dr. Rahul Jandial, a practicing brain cancer neurosurgeon at City of Hope, a leading cancer center. He discusses why controlling your breathing is often the first thing you can do when facing difficult news — a diagnosis, a crisis, a loss.
Why this checks out
Jandial is a credentialed neurosurgeon with real clinical experience treating brain tumor patients. That gives this more weight than typical viral wellness advice. The underlying science is well-established too. Slow, controlled breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system. That lowers heart rate and reduces acute stress. It gives people a window to think more clearly. This is standard physiology, not something novel or unproven.
What it is and isn't
This is general coping advice, not a cancer treatment or prevention claim. It's a reasonable tool for anyone processing hard news — a diagnosis, scan results, a caregiving crisis. But it's a coping strategy, not a substitute for grief support, counseling, or medical care.
What to do with this information
If you or someone you love faces a cancer diagnosis or difficult news, simple breathing techniques are low-cost, evidence-grounded tools. Try a slow inhale, a slower exhale, and a few rounds before reacting. Use them alongside talking to your care team, counselor, or support group about the emotional weight of a diagnosis — not instead of it.
How this article was prepared
An AI-assisted editorial system helped prepare this page based on Dr. Jandial's public professional background and the original social media clip. No named medical reviewer has reviewed it unless one is listed.
Cancer Explained is published by the National Cancer Information Foundation. It is not medical advice and does not suggest a test or treatment.
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Put the story in context
Prevention, possible warning signs, screening, and diagnosis
This story relates to general. The information below is general: it does not reveal anything else about a public person’s health, and not every point applies to every cancer. Personal advice depends on age, symptoms, family history, exposures, and medical history.
Prevention and risk reduction
Not every cancer can be prevented. Avoiding tobacco, protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation, limiting alcohol, staying active, and receiving recommended HPV or hepatitis B vaccination can lower the risk of certain cancers. A risk factor is not a prediction or a cause in one individual.
Symptoms and possible early signs
Possible signs vary and are often caused by conditions other than cancer. Changes worth discussing include a new lump, unexplained bleeding or weight loss, a persistent cough, lasting bowel or bladder changes, a changing skin spot, or symptoms that persist or worsen. Some early cancers cause no symptoms.
Screening and early detection
Screening looks for certain cancers before symptoms begin. Recommended tests exist only for some cancers and depend on age and risk. Screening can have benefits and harms; it is not the same as evaluating a new symptom, and there is no single routine scan or blood test that reliably screens for every cancer.
How cancer is diagnosed
Diagnosis may involve a history and exam, imaging, laboratory tests, and often a biopsy. Pathology can identify the cancer type and may test biomarkers that guide treatment. Symptoms, screening results, tumor markers, or online stories alone cannot confirm cancer.
Learn about this story’s cancer topic
A public story may encourage questions, but it should not be used to estimate your risk or choose testing. Contact a healthcare professional about a persistent or concerning change. Seek urgent care for severe or rapidly worsening symptoms.