A Yoga Program for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

A Yoga Program for Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: Effects on Quality of Life and Chemotherapy-associated Symptoms

The primary aim of this study is to assess and compare change in QOL during chemotherapy as measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-Breast) score between patients receiving yoga and those not receiving yoga. Secondary endpoints will include other measures of QOL such as sleep quality measured with the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), anxiety and depression using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and adherence to yoga and to chemotherapy treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age>18 years
• History of stage I-III breast cancer
• Patient scheduled to receive or within 2 weeks of receiving intravenous chemotherapy for their breast cancers
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance status of <3
• Ability to understand English

5.2 Exclusion Criteria:

• Planning to start yoga on their own within the next 12 weeks
• Maintained a regular personal practice or yoga within the 3 months before enrolling onto the study
• Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Class III or IV heart failure
• Child C cirrhosis
• End-Stage renal disease

Exclusion Criteria:

• Planning to start yoga on their own within the next 12 weeks
• Maintained a regular personal practice or yoga within the 3 months before enrolling onto the study
• Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Class III or IV heart failure
• Child C cirrhosis
• End-Stage renal disease