Yoga helps women with breast cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A new study shows that patients who participate in a yoga program during breast cancer treatment have better quality of life than those who do not.
Yoga has long been promoted for its health benefits. Now a team at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center show that it can help women with breast cancer when they are undergoing their treatment.

In this study, a group of 61 women having radiation either had twice weekly yoga or were offered the program after treatment. The classes were designed specially for this group - emphasising breathing and relaxation to help deal with the stress of treatment. And some yoga positions were excluded because they would have been difficult for the patients to perform. After just one week, those taking the classes reported better physical functioning and general health than those in the waiting list control group. Social functioning was also marginally better, although there was no difference in levels of depression and anxiety between the two groups. It's impressive evidence that the mind-body approach can be so helpful during cancer treatment. A follow up study is comparing yoga with stretching exercises which can also promote relaxation. The take-away message is that relaxation based interventions can probably do a great deal for women with breast cancer.

Source
American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting 4th June 2006