Author: Chakrabarty J1, Vidyasagar M2, Fernandes D2, Joisa G3, Varghese P4, Mayya S5.
Affiliation: 1Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal, India. 2Department of Radiotherapy and Oncolgy KH Manipal, Manipal, India. 3Department of Yoga KH Manipal, Manipal, India. 4ICMR project staff, Kasturba Hospital Manipal, Manipal, India. 5Department of Statistics, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
Conference/Journal: Int J Yoga.
Date published: 2015 Jan
Other:
Volume ID: 8 , Issue ID: 1 , Pages: 47-53 , Special Notes: doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.146062 , Word Count: 232
CONTEXT:
Incidence of breast cancer is very high among women around the world. Breast cancer patients experience cancer-related fatigue at some points during the treatment for breast cancer. Since cancer-related fatigue is of multifactorial origin, there are no evidence-based treatment strategies for fatigue. This study tested the effectiveness of certain pranayama techniques in reducing cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
AIMS:
The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy as measured by cancer fatigue scale.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN:
Shirdi Sai Baba Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Study was a randomized controlled trial done among breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED:
Demographic characteristics of the participants are presented as frequency and percentage. Comparison of means of cancer-related fatigue between the two groups is done by Mann-Whitney U-test and comparison of pre- and pos t-test means of cancer-related fatigue among the experimental group is done by Wilcoxon sign rank test.
RESULTS:
There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to the scores of cancer-related fatigue. The experimental group of patients who performed pranayama along with radiation therapy experienced less fatigue.
CONCLUSIONS:
Pranayama can be used as a supportive therapy for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
KEYWORDS:
Breast cancer; cancer-related fatigue; pranayama; radiation therapy
PMID: 25558133