TY - JOUR
T1 - Yoga of Awareness program for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors
T2 - Results from a randomized trial
AU - Carson, James W.
AU - Carson, Kimberly M.
AU - Porter, Laura S.
AU - Keefe, Francis J.
AU - Seewaldt, Victoria L.
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgment This work was supported by a grant from the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
PY - 2009/10
Y1 - 2009/10
N2 - Breast cancer survivors have limited options for the treatment of hot flashes and related symptoms. Further, therapies widely used to prevent recurrence in survivors, such as tamoxifen, tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms. The aim of this preliminary, randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a yoga intervention on menopausal symptoms in a sample of survivors of early-stage breast cancer (stages IA-IIB). Thirty-seven disease-free women experiencing hot flashes were randomized to the 8-week Yoga of Awareness program (gentle yoga poses, meditation, and breathing exercises) or to wait-list control. The primary outcome was daily reports of hot flashes collected at baseline, posttreatment, and 3 months after treatment via an interactive telephone system. Data were analyzed by intention to treat. At posttreatment, women who received the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements relative to the control condition in hot-flash frequency, severity, and total scores and in levels of joint pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, symptom-related bother, and vigor. At 3 months follow-up, patients maintained their treatment gains in hot flashes, joint pain, fatigue, symptom-related bother, and vigor and showed additional significant gains in negative mood, relaxation, and acceptance. This pilot study provides promising support for the beneficial effects of a comprehensive yoga program for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms in early-stage breast cancer survivors.
AB - Breast cancer survivors have limited options for the treatment of hot flashes and related symptoms. Further, therapies widely used to prevent recurrence in survivors, such as tamoxifen, tend to induce or exacerbate menopausal symptoms. The aim of this preliminary, randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a yoga intervention on menopausal symptoms in a sample of survivors of early-stage breast cancer (stages IA-IIB). Thirty-seven disease-free women experiencing hot flashes were randomized to the 8-week Yoga of Awareness program (gentle yoga poses, meditation, and breathing exercises) or to wait-list control. The primary outcome was daily reports of hot flashes collected at baseline, posttreatment, and 3 months after treatment via an interactive telephone system. Data were analyzed by intention to treat. At posttreatment, women who received the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements relative to the control condition in hot-flash frequency, severity, and total scores and in levels of joint pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, symptom-related bother, and vigor. At 3 months follow-up, patients maintained their treatment gains in hot flashes, joint pain, fatigue, symptom-related bother, and vigor and showed additional significant gains in negative mood, relaxation, and acceptance. This pilot study provides promising support for the beneficial effects of a comprehensive yoga program for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms in early-stage breast cancer survivors.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Hot flashes
KW - Meditation
KW - Pain
KW - Yoga
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349330240&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70349330240&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-009-0587-5
DO - 10.1007/s00520-009-0587-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 19214594
AN - SCOPUS:70349330240
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 17
SP - 1301
EP - 1309
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 10
ER -