Women who took yoga classes during breast cancer treatment
reported they could function better physically and felt
better about their health, a small study released said.
Sixty-two women who were undergoing radiation treatment
for breast cancer were randomly assigned to attend yoga
classes twice a week or be put on a waiting list to start
yoga after their treatment. All completed surveys about
various quality-of-life measurements.
The women who practiced yoga reported better physical functioning,
such as the ability to walk a mile, climb stairs and lift
groceries, said Lorenzo Cohen, director of integrative medicine
at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
They also felt better about their overall health and reported
less fatigue and problems sleeping, said Cohen, the study's
lead author.
No difference was seen, however, in rates of depression
and anxiety in the two groups, according to findings presented
at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical
Oncology.
Yoga practice includes a series of poses to promote flexibility,
strength and mental relaxation. There are several different
forms.
In the study, instructors emphasized breathing and relaxation
and excluded positions that would be difficult for patients
with weakened range of motion.
The average patient in the study was 52 years old.
The researchers have planned another study, funded by the
National Cancer Institute,
comparing breast cancer patients taking yoga with others
in a class that teaches general stretching exercises. The
goal was to determine if the benefits seen from yoga come
from the practice itself or the emotional support received
from participating in a class.
"If indeed yoga does better (in that study), we can be
much more confident about this being a successful intervention,"
said Dr. Patricia Ganz, who studies the quality of life
of cancer patients at the University of California at Los
Angeles.
