Pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors with poor quality of life. 


Author: Levine AS, Balk JL.

Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 532 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. Electronic address: levine.ali@gmail.com. 
Conference/Journal: Complement Ther Clin Pract.
Date published: 2012 Nov
Other:
 Volume ID: 18   ,  Issue ID: 4   ,  Pages: 241-5   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2012.06.007.   ,  Word Count: 162  
    INTRODUCTION:

Studies show benefits of yoga for breast cancer patients with poor quality of life (QOL); however, none exclusively focus on survivors. This study addresses whether hatha yoga improves breast cancer survivors' QOL.

METHODS:

25 breast cancer survivors completed six weeks of yoga. Outcome measures were 5 QOL categories evaluated using the FACT-B survey pre and post-intervention and after 6 months.

RESULTS:

Each category was evaluated independently, including: physical (PWB), social (SWB), emotional (EWB), functional (FWB), breast cancer specific well-being (BCS), Trial Outcome Index (TOI), FACT-G, and FACT-B. Significant improvement was found in all categories except social well-being (PWB p = .013, EWB p = .005, FWB p = .003, BCS p < .001, TOI p < .001, FACT-G p = .004, FACT-B p < .001). Patients with below average pre-intervention index scores (n = 13) showed greater improvement in EWB and FWB, while those with above average pre-intervention scores (n = 9) showed greater improvement in PWB.

CONCLUSIONS:

Yoga may be feasible and clinically useful for breast cancer survivors with poor QOL.

Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 23059439