» Articles » PMID: 29388071

Yoga for the Management of Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicities

Overview
Journal Curr Oncol Rep
Publisher Current Science
Specialty Oncology
Date 2018 Feb 2
PMID 29388071
Citations 18
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Purpose Of Review: To (1) explain what yoga is, (2) summarize published literature on the efficacy of yoga for managing cancer treatment-related toxicities, (3) provide clinical recommendations on the use of yoga for oncology professionals, and (4) suggest promising areas for future research.

Recent Findings: Based on a total of 24 phase II and one phase III clinical trials, low-intensity forms of yoga, specifically gentle hatha and restorative, are feasible, safe, and effective for treating sleep disruption, cancer-related fatigue, cognitive impairment, psychosocial distress, and musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation and cancer survivors. Clinicians should consider prescribing yoga for their patients suffering with these toxicities by referring them to qualified yoga professionals. More definitive phase III clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings and to investigate other types, doses, and delivery modes of yoga for treating cancer-related toxicities in patients and survivors.

Citing Articles

Which specific modes of exercise training are most effective for breast related cancer fatigue? Network meta-analysis.

Li Y, Zhang J, Hu D, Gao L, Huang T Front Oncol. 2025; 15:1491634.

PMID: 40078193 PMC: 11897559. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1491634.


A single-subject research design evaluating a co-created yoga program for adults with gynecologic cancer: feasibility study protocol.

Price J, Brunet J Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2024; 10(1):8.

PMID: 38229143 PMC: 10790429. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01435-7.


Prescription of therapeutic exercise in migraine, an evidence-based clinical practice guideline.

La Touche R, Fierro-Marrero J, Sanchez-Ruiz I, Rodriguez de Rivera-Romero B, Cabrera-Lopez C, Lerma-Lara S J Headache Pain. 2023; 24(1):68.

PMID: 37286937 PMC: 10245624. DOI: 10.1186/s10194-023-01571-8.


Perceived benefit of yoga among adults who have practiced yoga for a long time: a qualitative study.

Akdeniz S, Kastan O Biopsychosoc Med. 2023; 17(1):19.

PMID: 37189194 PMC: 10184339. DOI: 10.1186/s13030-023-00276-3.


Symptom management in adult brain tumours: A literature review.

Zhang R, Wang D, Liu Y, Tian M, Zhu L, Chen J Nurs Open. 2023; 10(8):4892-4906.

PMID: 37120840 PMC: 10333888. DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1795.


References
1.
Vadiraja S, Rao M, Nagendra R, Nagarathna R, Rekha M, Vanitha N . Effects of yoga on symptom management in breast cancer patients: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Yoga. 2010; 2(2):73-9. PMC: 2933732. DOI: 10.4103/0973-6131.60048. View

2.
Beck S, Dudley W, Barsevick A . Pain, sleep disturbance, and fatigue in patients with cancer: using a mediation model to test a symptom cluster. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2005; 32(3):542. DOI: 10.1188/04.ONF.E48-E55. View

3.
Derry H, Jaremka L, Bennett J, Peng J, Andridge R, Shapiro C . Yoga and self-reported cognitive problems in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Psychooncology. 2014; 24(8):958-66. PMC: 4405403. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3707. View

4.
Raghavendra R, Nagarathna R, Nagendra H, Gopinath K, Srinath B, Ravi B . Effects of an integrated yoga programme on chemotherapy-induced nausea and emesis in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2007; 16(6):462-74. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2354.2006.00739.x. View

5.
Mustian K, Morrow G, Carroll J, Figueroa-Moseley C, Jean-Pierre P, Williams G . Integrative nonpharmacologic behavioral interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue. Oncologist. 2007; 12 Suppl 1:52-67. DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.12-S1-52. View