hatha yoga in improving physical activity, inflammation, fatigue, and distress in breast cancer survivors

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Depression; Fatigue; Pain

Summary: rationale: yoga may improve inflammation, fatigue, and depression in female breast cancer survivors. purpose: this randomized clinical trial is studying how well hatha yoga works in improving physical activity, inflammation, fatigue, and distress in female breast cancer survivors.

objectives: primary * to determine if the yoga intervention will decrease inflammation, fatigue, and depressive symptoms relative to the waiting-list controls in women who are stage 0-iiia breast cancer survivors. outline: patients are stratified according to stage of cancer (stage 0 vs stage i vs stage ii and stage iiia) and prior radiation therapy (yes vs no). patients are randomized to 1 of 2 intervention arms. * arm i (waiting-list control): patients are encouraged to perform usual activities, but asked to refrain from any yoga practice or other related activities. after a six-month observation period, patients undergo yoga intervention as described in arm ii . * arm ii (yoga intervention): patients participate in a hatha yoga intervention session comprising body postures and breath control techniques for 1.5 hours twice a week for 12 weeks. patients are encouraged to practice hatha yoga at home. patients complete daily diaries on home hatha yoga practices and submit them at each session.

Eligibility criteria:
disease characteristics: * stage 0-iiia breast cancer survivor * completed cancer treatment within the past 36 months (except for tamoxifen/aromatase inhibitors) * at least 2 months since prior surgery, adjuvant therapy, or radiotherapy, whichever occurred last * women who are not currently practicing yoga and have not participated in any of the following activities: * meditation, tai chi, or related activities * yoga or tai chi within the past 6 months * had classes for or practiced yoga for more than 3 months * women who typically engage in a total of 5 or more hours of vigorous physical activity per week are not eligible * no inflammatory breast cancer patient characteristics: inclusion criteria: * hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl (patients with a hemoglobin of \< 10 g/dl may be retested in 6 weeks after treatment of anemia and allowed to participate in study if blood counts recovered) * physically able to fully participate in yoga intervention exclusion criteria: * inability to comfortably get up and down from the floor 2-3 times in a session * breathing problems requiring use of oxygen * problems walking without a cane or walker assistance * prior knee or hip replacement with limited movement in the joint * inability to comfortably lie on the stomach * alcohol, or drug abuse * diagnosis of any of the following conditions: * diabetes * chronic obstructive pulmonary disease * uncontrolled hypertension * evidence of liver or kidney failure * symptomatic ischemic heart disease * significant visual or auditory problems * mental disorder or cognitive impairment * notable serious cardiovascular history (e.g., prior life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms) * other medical conditions involving the immune system such as autoimmune and/or inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis * history of breast or any other cancer, except basal or squamous cell skin cancer prior concurrent therapy: * see disease characteristics * no regular use of medications with major immunological consequences (e.g., steroids)

Keywords: fatigue depression pain cancer survivor stage ia breast cancer stage ib breast cancer stage ii breast cancer stage iiia breast cancer breast cancer in situ