The Role of Yoga in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Review of Current Literature

Authors

  • Selvaraj Giridharan Consultant Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Tawam Hospitals, AL Ain, UAE. Author
  • Rajanee Bhana Consultant Oncologist, Department of Oncology, University Hospitals of North Midlands, Stoke on Trent, UK. Author
  • Jawaher Ansari Consultant Oncologist, Department of Oncology, Tawam Hospitals, AL Ain, UAE. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/IRJAY.2023.61109

Keywords:

Cancer, QOL, Radiotherapy, Yoga

Abstract

The role of yoga in patients undergoing radiotherapy(RT) for cancer treatment has garnered increasing interest  recently. RT can result in significant side effects, such as fatigue, sleep disturbance, and decreased physical function,  and yoga has shown potential in alleviating these effects. This narrative review aims to provide an overview of the  potential benefits of yoga as a supportive care strategy for patients undergoing anticancer RT. We discuss relevant  randomised studies and evidence supporting the effectiveness of yoga interventions, focusing on their impact in  stress reduction, mood improvement, symptom management and overall well-being. By incorporating yoga into  the treatment plan, healthcare professionals can enhance the holistic care of cancer patients and potentially improve  treatment outcomes. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Kiss N. Nutrition support and dietary interventions for patients with lung cancer: Current insights. Lung Cancer (Auckl) 2016;7:1-9. 2. Preyde M, Synnott E. Psychosocial intervention for adults with cancer: A meta-analysis. J Evid Based Soc Work 2009;6:321-47. 3. Taylor KM, Macdonald KG, Bezjak A, Ng P, DePetrillo A.

Physicians’ perspective on quality of life: An exploratory study of oncologists. Qual Life Res 1996;5:5-14.

Hodges LJ, Walker JE, Kleiboer AM, Ramirez AJ, Richardson A, Velikova G, et al. What is a psychological intervention? A metareview and practical proposal. Psychooncology 2011;20:470-8.

Cramer H, Park CL, Steel A, Gangadhar BN, Pilkington K. Yoga in prevention and therapy. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2017;2017:2160624.

Pal GK. Yoga for achieving perfect health. Int J Clin Exp Physiol 2022;9:61-2.

Desai K, Bowman MA, Galantino ML, Hughes-Halbert C, Vapiwala N, DeMichele A, et al. Predictors of yoga use among patients with breast cancer. Explore (NY) 2010;6:359-63.

Pattnaik SJ, Prasad RK, Jyotirmay, Pani P, Nishant, Kumar S. Yoga as a holistic approach for stress management in oral cancer patients: A prospective study. J Family Med Prim Care 2020;9:4200-4.

DiStasio SA. Integrating yoga into cancer care. Clin J Oncol Nurs 2008;12:125-30.

Patel SR, Zayas J, Medina-Inojosa JR, Loprinzi C, Cathcart-Rake EJ, Bhagra A, et al. Real-world experiences with yoga on cancer-related symptoms in women with breast cancer. Glob Adv Health Med 2021;10:1-7.

Blank SE, Kittel J, Haberman MR. Active practice of Iyengar yoga as an intervention for breast cancer survivors. Int J Yoga Ther 2005;15:51-9.

Haier J, Duda A, Branss-Tallen C. Improvement of well-being in cancer patients by yoga training. Med J Indones 2018;27:185-93. 13. Buffart LM, van Uffelen JG, Riphagen II, Brug J, van Mechelen W, Brown WJ, et al. Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Cancer 2012;12:559. 14. Harder H, Parlour L, Jenkins V. Randomised controlled trials of yoga interventions for women with breast cancer: A systematic literature review. Support Care Cancer 2012;20:3055-64.

Danhauer SC, Mihalko SL, Russell GB, Campbell CR, Felder L, Daley K, et al. Restorative yoga for women with breast cancer: Findings from a randomized pilot study. Psychooncology 2009;18:360-8.

Lin PJ, Peppone LJ, Janelsins MC, Mohile SG, Kamen CS, Kleckner IR, et al. Yoga for the management of cancer treatment related toxicities. Curr Oncol Rep 2018;20:5.

Fibriansari RD, Azizah LN. Yoga therapy for improving the quality of life among breast cancer patients: Literature review. Health Technol J 2023;1:139-47.

Danhauer SC, Addington EL, Sohl SJ, Chaoul A, Cohen L. Review of yoga therapy during cancer treatment. Support Care Cancer 2017;25:1357-72.

Pan Y, Yang K, Wang Y, Zhang L, Liang H. Could yoga practice improve treatment‐related side effects and quality of life for women with breast cancer? A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2017;13:e79-95.

Danhauer SC, Addington EL, Cohen L, Sohl SJ, van Puymbroeck M, Albinati NK, et al. Yoga for symptom management in oncology: A review of the evidence base and future directions for research. Cancer 2019;125:1979-89.

Agarwal RP, Maroko-Afek A. Yoga into cancer care: A review of the evidence-based research. Int J Yoga 2018;11:3-29.

Culos-Reed SN, Mackenzie MJ, Sohl SJ, Jesse MT, Zahavich AN, Danhauer SC. Yoga & cancer interventions: A review of the clinical significance of patient reported outcomes for cancer survivors. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012;2012:642576.

Baskar R, Lee KA, Yeo R, Yeoh KW. Cancer and radiation therapy: Current advances and future directions. Int J Med Sci 2012;9:193-9. 24. Ward JF. Biochemistry of DNA lesions. Radiat Res Suppl 1985;104:S103-11.

Takeshima T, Chamoto K, Wakita D, Ohkuri T, Togashi Y, Shirato H,

et al. Local radiation therapy inhibits tumor growth through the generation of tumor-specific CTL: Its potentiation by combination with Th1 cell therapy. Cancer Res 2010;70:2697-706.

Cox JD, Stetz J, Pajak TF. Toxicity criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group and the European organization for research and treatment of cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1995;31:1341-6.

Kelm RC, Brady MJ, Kuehn R. Breast cancer and radiotherapy: A review. Semin Radiat Oncol 2022;32:25-36.

Agoramoorthy G. Yoga: A mindful approach in cancer care. J Adv Pharm Technol Res 2019;10:1-2.

Hwang E, Chung SY, Cho J, Kim W, Lee S. The effects of yogic exercises on breast cancer-related lymphedema: A systematic review. J Phys Ther Sci 2015;27:1145-9.

Standish LJ, Malani SM, Lynch K, Whinkin EJ, McCotter CM, Lynch DA, et al. Integrative oncology’s 30-year anniversary: What have we achieved? A North American naturopathic oncology perspective. Integr Cancer Ther 2023;22.

Chandwani KD, Perkins G, Nagendra HR, Raghuram NV, Spelman A, Nagarathna R, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of yoga in women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. J Clin Oncol 2014;32:1058-65.

Vadiraja HS, Rao MR, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Rekha M, Vanitha N, et al. Effects of yoga program on quality of life and affect in early breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy: Arandomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med 2009;17:274-80.

Ben-Josef AM, Chen J, Wileyto EP, Doucette A, Bekelman J, Christodouleas JP. A yoga intervention for post-radiotherapy sleep disturbance in patients with prostate cancer and their partners: A pilot study. Support Care Cancer 2016;24:883-90.

Kaushik D, Shah PK, Mukherjee N, Ji N, Dursun F, Kumar AP, et al. Effects of yoga in men with prostate cancer on quality of life and immune response: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2022;25:531-8.

Banerjee B, Vadiraj HS, Ram A, Rao R, Jayapal M, Gopinath KS, et al. Effects of an integrated yoga program on chemotherapy induced nausea and emesis in breast cancer patients. Eur J Cancer Care 2007;16:462-74.

Vadiraja HS, Raghavendra RM, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR, Rekha M, Vanitha N, et al. Effects of a yoga program on cortisol rhythm and mood states in early breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy: A randomized controlled trial. Integr Cancer Ther 2009;8:37-46.

Ratcliff CG, Milbury K, Chandwani KD, Chaoul A, Perkins G, Nagarathna R, et al. Examining mediators and moderators of yoga for women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Integr Cancer Ther 2016;15:250-62.

Rao RM, Raghuram N, Nagendra HR, Usharani MR, Gopinath KS, Diwakar RB, et al. Effects of an integrated yoga program on self reported depression scores in breast cancer patients undergoing conventional treatment: A randomized controlled trial. Indian J Palliat Care 2015;21:174-81.

Jain M, Mishra A, Yadav V, Shyam H, Kumar S, Mishra SK, et al. Long-term yogic intervention improves symptomatic scale and quality of life by reducing inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy: A randomized control study. Cureus 2023;15:e33427.

Micheletti S, Serra P, Tesei A, Azzali I, Arienti C, Ancarani V, et al. Effects of yoga practice on physiological distress, fatigue, and quality of life in patients affected by breast cancer undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Tech Innov Patient Support Radiat Oncol 2022;24:32-9.

D’cunha R, Pappachan B, D’souza OL, Tonse R, Saldanha E, Baliga MS. Effectiveness of yoga Nidra in mitigating stress in women undergoing curative radiotherapy for cervical cancer. Middle East J Cancer 2021;12:117-27.

Adhikari B, Starkweather A, Xu W, Acabchuk RL, Ramesh D, Eze B, et al. A feasibility study on yoga’s mechanism of action for chronic low back pain: Psychological and neurophysiological changes, including global gene expression and DNA methylation, following a yoga intervention for chronic low back pain. Pilot Feasibil Stud 2022;8:142.

Rathore M, Verma M, Abraham J, Dada R, Kumar M. Impact of yoga-based lifestyle interventions and its implications on health and disease. Int Res J Ayurveda Yoga 2023;1:64-73.

Anand A, Goyal AK, Bakshi J, Sharma K, Vir D, Didi A. Yoga as an

integrative approach for prevention and treatment of oral cancer. Int J Yoga 2018;11:177-85.

Downloads

Published

2023-11-30

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 11 (2023): International Research Journal of Ayurveda and Yoga (Nov) (2023)

Section

Review Article

How to Cite

Giridharan, S., Bhana, R., & Ansari, J. (2023). The Role of Yoga in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Review of Current Literature. International Research Journal of Ayurveda & Yoga, 6(11), 42-48. https://doi.org/10.48165/IRJAY.2023.61109
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC