Dr. Punam Rana

Dr. Punam Rana Busy mother of 4 little humans, a medical oncologist, a wife, among many other titles!

A simple truth: mindfulness belongs in every cancer patient’s treatment plan.Honoured to speak today at the Breast Cance...
11/28/2025

A simple truth: mindfulness belongs in every cancer patient’s treatment plan.

Honoured to speak today at the Breast Cancer Conference about integrating mindfulness into cancer care.

The guidelines are already out there—all cancer patients should be engaging in mindfulness to reduce depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

Grateful for the clinicians, patients, and caregivers who joined the conversation today.

If you’re interested in mindfulness for cancer patients, healthcare professionals, or working mothers, I’d love to connect!





Our brains are terrible at telling the difference between real threats and the horrible stories they like to produce.The...
11/17/2025

Our brains are terrible at telling the difference between real threats and the horrible stories they like to produce.

The anxiety you feel about the thing that hasn’t happened yet? The suffering is real—even if the threat isn’t.

Mindfulness isn’t about stopping your brain from being dramatic (good luck with that).

It’s about catching yourself mid-spiral and asking:
What’s actually happening right now?

Usually, in this moment, you’re okay.
And when we focus on just this moment, we can feel our body start to let go of the tension, alleviating some of the suffering.

Last night we celebrated 10 years of Humber’s journey. Choosing Humber was one of the best decisions I’ve made—not jus...
11/15/2025

Last night we celebrated 10 years of Humber’s journey.


Choosing Humber was one of the best decisions I’ve made—not just for my career, but for my personal life. This hospital supported me through my pregnancies, my return to work, and all the messy, beautiful challenges of being a mother and a physician.

And when I came forward with ideas outside the traditional mold—research in mindful medicine, launching a mindfulness program for cancer patients—I was met with openness, encouragement, and real support.

I’m truly proud to call this institution my workplace.

Proud of the care we give.
Proud of the community we serve.
Proud that I get to make a difference not only in my patients’ lives, but in the broader community we’re building together.
And proud of the parties we throw. 🎉

I just got back from vacation on Saturday… and I need another one.Vacations are fun—but they’re a lot of work. As mother...
11/12/2025

I just got back from vacation on Saturday… and I need another one.

Vacations are fun—but they’re a lot of work.
As mothers, we carry the invisible load everywhere we go (yes, even to the Bahamas).

🍋 New on The Lemon Tree: I Just Got Back From Vacation—and I Need Another One. Link in bio.

Here's something to think about:Our electrical brains are not that different from computers. We also need to unplug. Not...
11/10/2025

Here's something to think about:
Our electrical brains are not that different from computers.

We also need to unplug.
Not for a week at a spa (though yes please).
But just for a few minutes. Actually a few minutes.

When our computer glitches, we restart it.
When our wifi acts up, we unplug the router.
But when we're about to crash?
We add more to the to-do list.

Try it: Unplug for a few minutes:
🌼 Three deep breaths before getting out of bed
🌼 Sitting in your car for 60 seconds before getting out
🌼 One cup of coffee you actually taste

You'll work better when you plug back in.

What's your favorite way to unplug for a few minutes?



Twelve years ago, when I first discovered mindfulness, I knew in my heart it was a missing piece of healing for my patie...
11/06/2025

Twelve years ago, when I first discovered mindfulness, I knew in my heart it was a missing piece of healing for my patients

Now mindfulness is being recognized on an international stage—and with ASCO/SIO's 2023 guideline recommending mindfulness-based interventions for anxiety and depression during and after treatment—it finally feels like it's getting the attention and respect it deserves.

I am honored to speak at the Breast Cancer Survivorship & Supportive Care Conference about the evidence-based guidelines for mindfulness in cancer care.

Because this isn't a "nice to have." It's a crucial part of the healing journey—being present with whatever is there: the fear, the pain, the hope, the uncertainty. In that presence, you can find yourself when everything feels uncertain.

Grateful to the organizers, my colleagues, and—always—my patients. 💗

Mindfulness isn’t about making the chaos disappear.It’s not about silencing your kids, curing the cancer, or finally ach...
11/04/2025

Mindfulness isn’t about making the chaos disappear.

It’s not about silencing your kids, curing the cancer, or finally achieving that elusive “calm.”

It’s about showing up for what’s actually here — the messy, the hard, the beautiful, the exhausting — without needing it to be different first.
The waves keep coming as long as we are alive.

But we can learn to move with them instead of constantly getting knocked over.

That’s the practice.

What’s one wave you’re riding this week? 🌊

Last Sunday my 10 year old ran his first 10k!The hardest part for me was at 7k, when his ankle started to hurt and I had...
11/01/2025

Last Sunday my 10 year old ran his first 10k!

The hardest part for me was at 7k, when his ankle started to hurt and I had to make that impossible parenting call-

Do we honor rest?
Or trust resilience and push through it?

I stayed close, watched carefully, and we decided to keep running.

It’s controversial, I know. We talk so much about listening to our bodies (and we should). But there’s also something sacred about showing our kids they can do hard things, that discomfort doesn’t always mean stop.

He finished the race, hobbling. My husband was not thrilled with our decision to risk an injury.

All we can do is trust our instincts in the moment of uncertainty.

But the pride on his face? Worth every uncertain step. 🏃‍♂️💙

As an oncologist, I’ve seen countless women who felt perfectly fine — until a routine mammogram found an early, curable ...
10/30/2025

As an oncologist, I’ve seen countless women who felt perfectly fine — until a routine mammogram found an early, curable cancer.

That’s the power of early detection. 💗

What question should I answer next week? Drop it below 👇

An inspiring evening celebrating breast reconstruction awareness with our hospital team and Dr. Mitch Brown the founder...
10/23/2025

An inspiring evening celebrating breast reconstruction awareness with our hospital team and Dr. Mitch Brown the founder of BRA Day (Breast Reconstruction Awareness)— whose vision started a global movement. 💗

It’s amazing to see how an idea he conceived years ago has grown into an internationally recognized initiative — empowering women around the world to learn, connect, and make informed choices about breast reconstruction after cancer.

Grateful to everyone at who made this evening possible, and to the patients whose courage continues to inspire us every day. 🌸



What if meditation wasn’t about becoming better at holding it all together —but about learning to put it all down?Ten mi...
10/23/2025

What if meditation wasn’t about becoming better at holding it all together —
but about learning to put it all down?

Ten minutes at a time.
One breath at a time.

🌿 New on The Lemon Tree: The Temporary Release of All Responsibilities.

Address

Toronto, ON

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr. Punam Rana posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category