title: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study Assessing Feasibility and Impact of Yoga Practice on Quality of Life, Mood, and Perceived Stress in Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A breast cancer diagnosis can entail numerous physical and psychosocial challenges. Yoga practice (YP) may contribute to improved well-being for these patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigate feasibility and impact of YP on quality of life (QoL), mood, fatigue, and perceived stress immediately after breast cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty women were randomly assigned to a yoga group (YG) or control group (CG) immediately after cancer diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot study conducted at an academic medical center breast clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Females (N = 30) who received a biopsy-proven breast cancer diagnosis without metastatic disease.
  One individual YP session at baseline, then 2 individual and 8 weekly group sessions followed by weekly gentle yoga at home (DVD). Questionnaires and saliva samples (ie, cortisol) completed at baseline and 12 weeks postdiagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both groups reported significant improvements in QoL postintervention but with no significant difference between groups. Emotional well-being, mood-related tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, and confusion-bewilderment scores improved for both groups, and cortisol and cortisone levels decreased. Lumpectomies were prevalent with YG (67%) and CG (47%). YP was rated as "very effective," providing relaxation (85%), stress relief (69%), and reduced muscle tension/general feeling of wellness (each 62%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Feasibility of YP immediately after breast cancer diagnosis was good. Improvement in emotional well-being, anxiety, depression, and levels of confusion was found in both groups. To our knowledge, this is the first study examining the impact of YP immediately after breast cancer diagnosis. Further research in this area is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Sandhya Pruthi, MD, and Daniela L. Stan, MD, are consultants, Division of General Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Sandhya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pruthi
authors.affiliation: Sandhya Pruthi, MD, and Daniela L. Stan, MD, are consultants, Division of General Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Daniela L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stan
authors.affiliation: Sarah M. Jenkins is a statistician and Marianne Huebner, PhD, is a research consultant, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.affiliation: Sarah M. Jenkins is a statistician and Marianne Huebner, PhD, is a research consultant, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, United States.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huebner
authors.affiliation: Beth A. Borg, RN, MHA, is an administrator and Barbara S. Thomley is a complementary and integrative medicine coordinator, Division of General Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.affiliation: Beth A. Borg, RN, MHA, is an administrator and Barbara S. Thomley is a complementary and integrative medicine coordinator, Division of General Internal Medicine, United States.
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thomley
authors.affiliation: Susanne M. Cutshall, MS, RN, CNS, is an integrative health specialist, Department of Surgery, United States.
authors.forename: Susanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cutshall
authors.affiliation: Ravinder Singh, PhD, is a consultant, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, United States.
authors.forename: Ravinder
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Sadhna Kohli, PhD, is an associate consultant, Oncology Research, United States.
authors.forename: Sadhna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.affiliation: Judy C. Boughey, MD, is a consultant, Division of General Surgery, and Valerie Lemaine, MD, MPH, is a senior associate consultant, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, all at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.
authors.forename: Judy C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Boughey
authors.affiliation: Judy C. Boughey, MD, is a consultant, Division of General Surgery, and Valerie Lemaine, MD, MPH, is a senior associate consultant, Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, all at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lemaine
authors.affiliation: Lise Solberg Nes, PhD, is a psychologist in the Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, United States.
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solberg Nes
keywords: Breast cancer; fatigue; pilot study; quality of life; stress; yoga