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. 2015 Jan;8(1):47-53.
doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.146062.

Effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: A randomized controlled trial

Jyothi Chakrabarty  1 , Ms Vidyasagar  2 , Donald Fernandes  2 , Ganapathi Joisa  3 , Prabha Varghese  4 , Sreemathi Mayya  5
Affiliations

Effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy: A randomized controlled trial

Jyothi Chakrabarty et al. Int J Yoga. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Context: Incidence of breast cancer is very high among women around the world. Breast cancer patients experience cancer-related fatigue at some points during the treatment for breast cancer. Since cancer-related fatigue is of multifactorial origin, there are no evidence-based treatment strategies for fatigue. This study tested the effectiveness of certain pranayama techniques in reducing cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pranayama on cancer-related fatigue among breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy as measured by cancer fatigue scale.

Settings and design: Shirdi Sai Baba Cancer Hospital and Research Center, Kasturba Hospital Manipal.

Materials and methods: Study was a randomized controlled trial done among breast cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

Statistical analysis used: Demographic characteristics of the participants are presented as frequency and percentage. Comparison of means of cancer-related fatigue between the two groups is done by Mann-Whitney U-test and comparison of pre- and pos t-test means of cancer-related fatigue among the experimental group is done by Wilcoxon sign rank test.

Results: There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to the scores of cancer-related fatigue. The experimental group of patients who performed pranayama along with radiation therapy experienced less fatigue.

Conclusions: Pranayama can be used as a supportive therapy for breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Keywords: Breast cancer; cancer-related fatigue; pranayama; radiation therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort flow chart of randomized controlled trial
Figure 2
Figure 2
Number of breast cancer patients (y-axis) based on the classification of scores of cancer-related fatigue (x-axis) at the beginning of radiation therapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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