Influence of yoga on mood states, distress, quality of life and immune outcomes in early stage breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.

CONTEXT

Breast cancer patients awaiting surgery experience heightened distress that could affect postoperative outcomes.

AIMS

The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of yoga intervention on mood states, treatment-related symptoms, quality of life and immune outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Ninety-eight recently diagnosed stage II and III breast cancer patients were recruited for a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of a yoga program with supportive therapy plus exercise rehabilitation on postoperative outcomes following surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects were assessed prior to surgery and four weeks thereafter. Psychometric instruments were used to assess self-reported anxiety, depression, treatment-related distress and quality of life. Blood samples were collected for enumeration of T lymphocyte subsets (CD4 %, CD8 % and natural killer (NK) cell % counts) and serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM).

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

We used analysis of covariance to compare interventions postoperatively.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients contributed data to the current analysis (yoga n = 33, control n = 36). The results suggest a significant decrease in the state (P = 0.04) and trait (P = 0.004) of anxiety, depression (P = 0.01), symptom severity (P = 0.01), distress (P < 0.01) and improvement in quality of life (P = 0.01) in the yoga group as compared to the controls. There was also a significantly lesser decrease in CD 56% (P = 0.02) and lower levels of serum IgA (P = 0.001) in the yoga group as compared to controls following surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest possible benefits for yoga in reducing postoperative distress and preventing immune suppression following surgery.