Yoga may improve quality of life for breast cancer patients

A recent study found that breast cancer patients who did yoga while undergoing radiation treatment felt better and were less exhausted than those who did not.

Women who did yoga had lower cortisol levels than those who did not do yoga. Cortisol is a hormone released in the body in response to stress. Previous studies have shown that high levels of cortisol are associated with reduced survival in women with breast cancer.

“Ask your doctor what you can do to feel more comfortable during cancer treatment.”

Dr. Lorenzo Cohen of the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, led the study, which included 163 breast cancer patients who received one to three cycles of radiation. The women were obtained from public databases or from their doctors.

The women were randomly assigned to three groups. Of these, 53 did yoga, 56 did stretching exercises, and the remaining 54 were put on a waiting list and were not assigned any exercise.

For the study, women used a 36-item survey to self-assess their quality of life and provided saliva samples to assess cortisol levels.

Women in the yoga and stretching groups participated in an average of three 60-minute sessions per week during their six weeks of radiation therapy. Most exercise classes are one-on-one training. In addition, women were given audio CDs and written manuals and encouraged to continue their practice at home.

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The Yoga program is taught by Vyasa trained teachers. Vyasa is Vivekananda's comprehensive yoga for breast cancer patients based on Patanjali yoga courses. The class has specific postures like cobra pose, meditation and nostril breathing. Stretching classes are taught by physiotherapists.

Over the six-month study period, their self-reported physical health, general health, mental health, sleep quality and cortisol levels were at different points.

The researchers found that women who participated in yoga had the best results. The women who did the stretching exercises reported better physical function and less fatigue than the waiting group. Of all the study participants, women who participated in yoga were the healthiest and had the lowest cortisol levels.

No women in either group were found to experience improvements in nighttime sleep quality or psychological well-being.

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Regardless, yoga participants were more likely to find meaning in their lives despite their illness than the other two groups.

Jost Gregory, a personal trainer in Austin, Texas, isn't surprised by the findings. "For a breast cancer survivor, the impact of yoga on quality of life should be unquestionable. Its stress-reducing effects can lead to lower cortisol levels and improved survival," he said. "In addition, taking yoga classes can lead to improvements in strength, confidence, energy and sleep quality."