title: Effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence of breast cancer is very high among women around the world. Breast cancer patients experience cancer-related fatigue at some points during the treatment for breast cancer. Since cancer-related fatigue is of multifactorial origin, there are no evidence-based treatment strategies for fatigue. This study tested the effectiveness of certain pranayama techniques in reducing cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy as measured by cancer fatigue scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  Shirdi Sai Baba Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study was a randomized controlled trial done among breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic characteristics of the participants are presented as frequency and percentage. Comparison of means of cancer-related fatigue between the two groups is done by Mann-Whitney U-test and comparison of pre- and pos t-test means of cancer-related fatigue among the experimental group is done by Wilcoxon sign rank test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to the scores of cancer-related fatigue. The experimental group of patients who performed pranayama along with radiation therapy experienced less fatigue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pranayama can be used as a supportive therapy for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chakrabarty
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncolgy KH Manipal, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Ms
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidyasagar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy and Oncolgy KH Manipal, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga KH Manipal, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Ganapathi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joisa
authors.affiliation: ICMR project staff, Kasturba Hospital Manipal, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Prabha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Manipal University, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Sreemathi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mayya
keywords: Breast cancer; cancer-related fatigue; pranayama; radiation therapy