Effects of an Integrated Yoga Program in Modulating Psychological Stress and Radiation-Induced Genotoxic Stress in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy

Abstract

Effects of an integrated yoga program in modulating perceived stress levels, anxiety, as well as depression levels and radiation-induced DNA damage were studied in 68 breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. Two psychological questionnaires-Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-and DNA damage assay were used in the study. There was a significant decrease in the HADS scores in the yoga intervention group, whereas the control group displayed an increase in these scores. Mean PSS was decreased in the yoga group, whereas the control group did not show any change pre-and postradiotherapy. Radiation-induced DNA damage was significantly elevated in both the yoga and control groups after radiotherapy, but the postradiotherapy DNA damage in the yoga group was slightly less when compared to the control group. An integrated approach of yoga intervention modulates the stress and DNA damage levels in breast cancer patients during radiotherapy.

Yoga Breathing for Cancer Chemotherapy–Associated Symptoms and Quality of Life: Results of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

“…11,13,16 Several studies have investigated the efficacy of a multimodality yoga intervention, which includes breathing, postures, and/or meditation, in a population of patients with cancer. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] However, conclusive results are lacking. 30 Many studies have small and mixed samples (i.e., included both patients who were receiving cancer treatment and those post-treatment) and others have methodological limitations leading to challenges in drawing definitive conclusions.…”

Effects of an Intensive 3-Week Yoga Retreat on Sense of Well Being in Cancer Survivors

“…These psychological changes may also be linked to changes at the molecular level as evidenced by Banerjee et al [31] who studied effects of an integrated Yoga program in 68 patients of breast cancer who were undergoing radiotherapy. Yoga group showed significant decreases in HADS scores, whereas control group displayed increases.…”

Integrating Yoga in Oncology: Is the wait over?

“…Yoga reduced treatment related distress and toxicity such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting [10], constipation, sleep problems and pain [11]. Our studies have also shown Yoga to modulate anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory immune responses (TNF alpha, NK cell counts) following surgery [12], reduce genotoxic stress (DNA damage following adjuvant radiotherapy) [13] and normalize stress hormones (salivary cortisol rhythm), thus modulating the psychoneuroendocrinoimmune axes [9]. These studies have helped establish the stress reduction benefits of yoga through its influence on the hypothalamopituitary adrenal axes.…”