Tibetan yoga can help breast cancer patients, study finds

A new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found that Tibetan yoga helps chemotherapy patients sleep better
Insomnia, poor sleep quality and excessive drowsiness are common side effects chemotherapy patients endure
The study’s researchers are hopeful that their findings can better prepare women to undergo chemotherapy treatments

By Maggie O’Neill For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:03 BST, 20 September 2017 | Updated: 15:04 BST, 20 September 2017

Practicing Tibetan yoga can help breast cancer patients weather the harsh side effects of chemotherapy treatments, a new study has revealed.

The report from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that women who participated in one-on-one Tibetan yoga sessions four times a week slept better.

Tibetan yoga practices keep people in continuous movement – as opposed to stationary positions – and they are thought to improve memory and mental clarity.

Experiencing sleep disturbances is one of the most common side effects that cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy go through. They often report poor sleep quality, excessive drowsiness and insomnia, the study said.

The study’s researchers are hopeful that their findings can better prepare women who receive breast cancer diagnoses to face chemotherapy.

A new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has found that practicing Tibetan yoga can help breast cancer patients cope with the harsh side effects of chemotherapy (file photo)

CHEMOTHERAPY’S PAINFUL SIDE EFFECTS

Tamoxifen, the generic name of Nolvadex, is the oldest and most-prescribed pill for women in remission, according to BreastCancer.org.

The biggest benefits of the medication are reducing the risk of breast cancer of returning by 50 percent and reducing the risk of new cancer developing.

However, its side effects are notoriously taxing on patients – leading to what’s known as ‘chemo brain’, a colloquial term for the mental fogginess and memory loss it triggers.

Other side effects often associated with Tamoxifen and similar pills are abnormal vaginal bleeding, discharge pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking or understanding, vision problems, increased tumor or bone pain, hot flashes and depression.

Anxiety is another prominent side effect of the pills and even without the medication, women in remission often struggle with the mental health concern.

A study found that anxiety in breast cancer patients is usually sparked by a fear of death as a result of their symptoms.

For the study, researchers observed 227 women who had breast cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy.

The women were broken up into three groups: one group participated in a Tibetan yoga program, one in a program that focused on simple stretches and one that did neither of the two.

The activity and rest cycles of all participants were tracked before and after the study was conducted.

Study participants who practiced Tibetan yoga attended sessions that were 75 to 90 minutes long during their chemotherapy treatments.

During the sessions, the patients each worked with an instructor who helped them focus on visualization, posture, meditation and controlled breathing. They were encouraged to practice what they were learning daily, outside of their classrooms.

The women in the group who practiced Tibetan yoga reported that, in the months following the study, they experienced long-term sleep benefits as a result of their yoga classes.

They said that their sleep efficiency and quality was better compared to that of chemotherapy patients who did not practice Tibetan yoga. These patients also said they experienced fewer daily disturbances than did women in the other groups.

‘While the effects of this intervention were modest, it is encouraging to see that the women who practiced yoga outside of class had improved sleep outcomes over time,’ study author Dr Lorenzo Cohen said.

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