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Yoga Eases Cancer Survivor Woes
26 May
Summary
- Yoga intervention significantly reduces mood issues and fatigue in cancer survivors.
- The YOCAS program involves gentle yoga, breathing, and mindfulness.
- Yoga offers a non-drug approach for managing multiple cancer side effects.
Cancer survivors often grapple with sleepless nights, anxiety, mood swings, and fatigue. New research indicates that yoga could provide a non-medicinal pathway to alleviate these persistent issues.
The Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) intervention, tested over four weeks, incorporates 18 gentle yoga poses from hatha and restorative styles, alongside breathing exercises and mindfulness. Participants engaged in 75-minute sessions twice weekly, supplemented by home practice.
Findings from a study involving 206 survivors who received the YOCAS intervention alongside standard care showed promising results. Participants experienced notable improvements in mood disturbances and fatigue, with a medium-to-large effect observed. Anxiety scores also saw a small-to-medium improvement.
Researchers highlighted that structured yoga could effectively address some of the most difficult-to-treat side effects reported by survivors. The study, presented at a medical meeting, suggests yoga can help reduce insomnia, especially when mood disturbances, anxiety, and fatigue are also improved.
This trial helps fill a gap in survivorship care, as there isn't a single established behavioral treatment for the combined issues of mood disturbance, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia experienced by cancer survivors. The study was funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
