A small study could point us in a new direction for relieving the side effects of radiation treatment in breast cancer patients. The study, recently presented at an American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, is preliminary, but it has provided the basis for further study of an interesting connection: yoga and the side effects of radiation treatment.
When undergoing radiation treatment for breast cancer, patients can experience a wide range of life-disrupting side effects. These include difficulty sleeping, fatigue, stiffness, depression, and an overall feeling of being unwell.
The researchers, from MD Cancer Research Center in Houston, Texas, looked at 62 women with breast cancer, who were the average age of 52. The subjects were split into two groups — one group took two weekly hour-long sessions of Hatha yoga at the same time as their radiotherapy, and the other was told they were on a waiting list and would take yoga after their treatment was done. Both groups underwent six weeks of radiation.
Note that Hatha is a form of yoga that was introduced in the 15th Century in India. Hatha promotes relaxation, breathing control, balance, and strength through different postures and stretches.
At the end of the six weeks of radiation treatment, the women who had taken the yoga classes seemed to be doing better than those who had been on the waiting list. They had improved physical function, reported better general health, and were not as likely to have had difficulty sleeping.
Reduced fatigue was reported among the women in this group as well, but the numbers were not great enough to be significant. The study also looked at depression, but came up with no conclusive evidence that the yoga had helped.
More research is definitely required on this link — and we should see the evidence soon. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers have received funding from the National Cancer Institute so as to take a more comprehensive look at the effects of yoga on breast cancer patients going through radiation treatment.
For now, if you’re a breast cancer patient who is undergoing radiation treatment, check with your doctor to see if you can incorporate yoga into your life in order to improve your odds of not experiencing side effects. Then, check out yoga studios and class offerings in your area to get the most of out this sensational mind/body exercise.
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Tags: exercise, Radiation Therapy
