Cramer, H., Rabsilber, S., Lauche, R., Kummel, S., & Dobos, G. (2015). Yoga and meditation for menopausal symptoms in breast cancer survivors—A randomized controlled trial. Cancer, 121, 2175–2184.
To evaluate the effects of a 12-week traditional Hatha yoga and meditation intervention on menopausal symptoms in survivors of breast cancer
Unicenter, open-labeled, randomized clinical trial with two groups: (a) the group with yoga and meditation intervention and (b) the control group with usual care
Primary outcome: At week 12 and week 24, total menopausal symptoms were lower in the yoga group than in the usual care group (week 12: p = 0.004; week 24: p = 0.023). Regarding quality of life, significant group differences were observed at week 12 for the FACT-B total score (p = 0.002), and for the social (p = 0.024), emotional (p = 0.005), and functional well-being subscales (p = 0.024). There were no group differences for anxiety or depression. Women who received antiestrogen medication (n = 36) presented total menopausal symptoms lower in yoga group at week 12 (p = 0.013) but not at week 24 (p = 0.084). At week 24, no group differences were observed for any of the MRS subscales in the subgroup analysis (p = 0.075–0.352).
Yoga combined with meditation appears to be an effective intervention to relieve menopausal symptoms in survivors of breast cancer for at least three months after the end of the active neoplastic treatments. It can help reduce fatigue, and, for women who are receiving antiestrogen medication, yoga can have at least short-lasting effects.
Yoga is a good recommendation for patients with breast cancer to manage menopausal symptoms and to decrease fatigue. Intervention is effective to improve quality of life. Yoga does not have serious adverse events, and minor adverse events could be related to other causes.