title: Effects of yoga on cancer-related fatigue and global side-effect burden in older cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sixty percent of cancer survivors are 65years of age or older. Cancer and its treatments lead to cancer-related fatigue and many other side effects, in turn, creating substantial global side-effect burden (total burden from all side effects) which, ultimately, compromises functional independence and quality of life. Various modes of exercise, such as yoga, reduce cancer-related fatigue and global side-effect burden in younger cancer survivors, but no studies have specifically examined the effects of yoga on older cancer survivors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a 4-week yoga intervention (Yoga for Cancer Survivors: YOCAS©®) on overall cancer-related fatigue, and due to its multidimensional nature, the subdomains of cancer-related fatigue (general, physical, emotional, and mental) and global side-effect burden in older cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a secondary analysis on data from a multicenter phase III randomized controlled clinical trial with 2 arms (standard care and standard care plus a 4-week YOCAS©® intervention). The sample for this secondary analysis was 97 older cancer survivors (≥60years of age), between 2months and 2years post-treatment, who participated in the original trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in the YOCAS©® intervention arm reported significantly lower cancer-related fatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and global side-effect burden than participants in the standard care arm following the 4-week intervention period (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  YOCAS©® is an effective standardized yoga intervention for reducing cancer-related fatigue, physical fatigue, mental fatigue, and global side-effect burden among older cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA. Electronic address: sprodl@uncw.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sprod
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Isabel D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cancer Control and Survivorship Program, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Janelsins
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cancer Control and Survivorship Program, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Luke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Peppone
authors.affiliation: Southeast Cancer Control Consortium, Winston Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.affiliation: Greenville Community Clinical Oncology Program, Greenville, SC, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giguere
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Block
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA; Department of Surgery, Cancer Control and Survivorship Program, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Mustian
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
keywords: Cancer; Cancer-related fatigue; Exercise; Side-effects; Yoga