Skip to content

Health

Yoga boosts women in recovery from breast cancer treatment

by Martin Leggett 18 May 2011
Yoga boosts women in recovery from breast cancer treatment

The importance of viewing a patient's mind-body balance as an interwoven unit - one that needs to be treated in an holistic way - has been highlighted by a new study, It looked into the benefits of yoga for those undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

The research - from the MD Anderson Cancer Center, at the University of Texas - showed that women practicing both the meditative and physical aspects of yoga, had better health, lower stress, and an improved attitude, compared to those just undertaking simple stretching. The full results will be discussed by the team lead, Lorenzo Cohen, at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, this June.

Radiation therapy for women who are battling breast cancer is stressful, both physically and mentally. Helping them to manage these stresses, throughout both the radiation treatment - and the recovery from it - has long been claimed to be a beneficial bonus of yoga. This study, believed to the largest of its kind, is part of an ongoing attempt to prove the efficacy of yoga in helping such patients to recover better, and to be more healthy.

In order to test this, over 160 woman suffering from breast cancer were assessed, over their treatment period, and in the 6 months after. They were split into three groups - one with no exercise program; another undertaking simple stretching exercises; and a third group using both the stretching and meditation components of yoga.

Regular monitoring throughout the period asked the women to report their well-being, sense of fatigue, and how they felt about their mood and quality of life. Saliva samples, and cardiograms were also used to check up on the participants' stress-levels and general good-health.

What the team found was that those women taking up either yoga, or simple stretching, showed lower levels of fatigue than those who didn't exercise at all. But those in the yoga group had the best overall health levels and saw their experience in a more positive light. They also had the largest falls in cortisol - an important stress hormone. Given that breast cancer patients are very susceptible to higher levels of stress hormone - which often results in worse outcomes for their disease – the reduced levels of cortisol seen is an important result.

Cohen said ''The combination of mind and body practices that are part of yoga clearly have tremendous potential to help patients manage the psychosocial and physical distress associated with treatment and life after cancer, beyond the benefits of simple stretching.'' Having now won a grant from the National Cancer Institute, his team are looking to extend their study - to try to pin down the processes by which yoga is helping to improve the lives of patients, going through the tribulations of cancer treatment.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping