Randomized trial of yoga in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation treatment

8505 Background: Yoga, an ancient Indian science, incorporates stress-reduction techniques that include regulated breathing, visual imagery, and meditation, as well as various postures that may be useful for cancer patients. Methods: A yoga program was developed that including loosening and breathing exercises, postures, alternate nostril breathing, a deep relaxation technique, and meditation for patients with breast cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. Women participated in bi-weekly classes during their 6 weeks of radiation treatment. Sixty-one women with breast cancer were randomly assigned to either the yoga program or to a waitlist control group. Patients completed measures of intrusive thoughts and avoidance behaviors (Impact of Events Scale: IES), depressive symptoms (CES-D), sleep disturbances (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), fatigue (BFI), and quality of life (SF-36) at baseline, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months after the last radiation therapy. We report on the outcomes 1 week after the end of ra...