Randomized trial of yoga in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation treatment: Long-term effects

Abstract

9639 Background: A yoga program was developed that included postures, a breathing exercise, a relaxation technique, and meditation for patients with breast cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. We previously reported on the short-term benefits of yoga at improving physical functioning and general health perceptions at the end of radiotherapy. Methods: Women participated in bi-weekly classes during their 6 weeks of radiation treatment. Sixty-one women with breast cancer were randomly assigned to either the yoga program or to a waitlist control group. Patients completed measures of intrusive thoughts (Impact of Events Scale: IES), depressive symptoms (CES-D), sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (BFI), quality of life (SF-36), and Finding Meaning in Cancer (FM) at baseline, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months after the last radiation therapy. We report on the outcomes 1 and 3 months after the end of radiotherapy. Results: The average age was 52, 3% stage 0, 28% stage I, 43% stage II, and 26% stage III, 48% had undergone breast-conserving surgery, and 75% had received chemotherapy. Analysis of covariance, controlling for baseline, age, stage of cancer, time since diagnosis, type of surgery, and prior chemotherapy (yes/no) revealed that the yoga group had significantly higher IES scores 1 month after radiotherapy (adjusted means: yoga 7.1 vs. control 4.1, P=0.01) and significantly higher FM scores 3 months after radiotherapy (adjusted means: yoga 52.8 vs. control 47.3, P=0.01). There were no other group differences on any scales. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between IES scores at 1 month and FM scores at 3 months (P=0.02) suggesting that the more intrusive thoughts at 1 month the greater the finding meaning at 3 months. Regression analyses including group and IES scores at 1 month in predicting FM scores at 3 months revealed that IES scores remained a significant predictor in the model and group was no longer significant, suggesting that intrusive thoughts mediated the effects of group on FM scores. Conclusions: The results indicated that the yoga program was associated with increased finding meaning in the cancer experience 3 months after the end of radiotherapy and that this was mediated through increases in intrusive thoughts at 1 month. No significant financial relationships to disclose.