Pilot study of yoga for breast cancer survivors with poor quality of life.
BACKGROUND
Studies show benefits of yoga for breast cancer patients with poor quality of life (QOL); however, none exclusively focus on survivors. This study addresses whether hatha yoga improves breast cancer survivors' QOL.


METHODS
25 breast cancer survivors completed six weeks of yoga. Outcome measures were 5 QOL categories evaluated using the FACT-B survey pre and post-intervention and after 6 months.


RESULTS
Each category was evaluated independently, including: physical (PWB), social (SWB), emotional (EWB), functional (FWB), breast cancer specific well-being (BCS), Trial Outcome Index (TOI), FACT-G, and FACT-B. Significant improvement was found in all categories except social well-being (PWB p = .013, EWB p = .005, FWB p = .003, BCS p < .001, TOI p < .001, FACT-G p = .004, FACT-B p < .001). Patients with below average pre-intervention index scores (n = 13) showed greater improvement in EWB and FWB, while those with above average pre-intervention scores (n = 9) showed greater improvement in PWB.


CONCLUSIONS
Yoga may be feasible and clinically useful for breast cancer survivors with poor QOL.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 532 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. levine.ali@gmail.com
Alison S
AS
Levine
Judith L
JL
Balk
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga