Yoga and meditation for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors-A randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer survivors have only very limited treatment options for menopausal symptoms. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of a 12-week traditional Hatha yoga and meditation intervention on menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors.


METHODS
Patients were randomly assigned either to a 12-week yoga and meditation intervention or to usual care. The primary outcome measure was total menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale [MRS] total score). Secondary outcome measures included MRS subscales, quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast), fatigue (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue), depression, and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Outcomes were assessed at week 12 and week 24 after randomization.


RESULTS
In total, 40 women (mean age ± standard deviation, 49.2 ± 5.9 years) were randomized to yoga (n = 19) or to usual care (n = 21). Women in the yoga group reported significantly lower total menopausal symptoms compared with the usual care group at week 12 (mean difference, -5.6; 95% confidence interval, -9.2 to -1.9; P = .004) and at week 24 (mean difference, -4.5; 95% confidence interval, -8.3 to -0.7; P = .023). At week 12, the yoga group reported less somatovegetative, psychological, and urogenital menopausal symptoms; less fatigue; and improved quality of life (all P < .05). At week 24, all effects persisted except for psychological menopausal symptoms. Short-term effects on menopausal symptoms remained significant when only women who were receiving antiestrogen medication (n = 36) were analyzed. Six minor adverse events occurred in each group.


CONCLUSIONS
Yoga combined with meditation can be considered a safe and effective complementary intervention for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors. The effects seem to persist for at least 3 months.
Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Australian Research Center in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology-Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Holger
H
Cramer
Department of Gynecology, Certified Breast Center, Malteser Hospital St. Anna, Duisburg, Germany.|Interdisclipinary Breast Cancer Center, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany.
Sybille
S
Rabsilber
Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.|Australian Research Center in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology-Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Romy
R
Lauche
Interdisclipinary Breast Cancer Center, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Essen, Germany.
Sherko
S
Kümmel
Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
Gustav
G
Dobos
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019122:Meditation; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015013:Yoga
breast neoplasm; meditation; menopause; randomized controlled trial; yoga