Review Article

Yoga & Cancer Interventions: A Review of the Clinical Significance of Patient Reported Outcomes for Cancer Survivors

Table 1

(a) Studies Reviewed from the Yoga-Cancer Literature—Control Design. (b) Studies Reviewed from the Yoga-Cancer Literature—Single Group Design.
(a)

AuthorSample Cancer Type
and Treatment
Yoga InterventionControl
Group
Outcome Measures
Reported in Current Review

Chandwani et al., 2010 [10] Treatment: T1 = 30, T2 = 27
Control: T1 = 31, T2 = 31
Age range: 31–68
Mean age = 53
Breast (Stages 0–3)
Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy
60-minute classes twice weekly for 6 weeks
Type: Vivekananda Yoga
Wait-list control Quality of Life
-SF-36
Psychosocial
-CES-D, STAI
Symptom
-BFI, PSQI

Cohen et al., 2004 [11]Treatment: T1 = 19, T2 = 16
Control: T1 = 19, T2 = 14
Age range: NR
Mean age = 51
Lymphoma (Stages I–IV)
Previous 12 months receiving chemotherapy
Weekly classes for 7 weeks (class length not reported)
Type: Tibetan Yoga
Wait-list controlPsychosocial
-CES-D, STAI
Symptom
-BFI, PSQI

Culos-Reed et al., 2006 [12]Treatment: T1 = 20, T2 = 18
Control: T1 = 18, T2 = 18
Age range: NR
Mean age = 51
Breast , Other
≥3 months post-treatment
75 minute weekly classes for 7 weeks
Type: Iyengar Yoga
Wait-list control Quality of Life
-EORTC QLQ-C30
Psychosocial
-POMS

Danhauer et al., 2009 [13]Treatment:T1 = 22, T2 = 13
Control: T1 = 22, T2 = 14
Age range: 38–79
Mean age = 55
Breast (Stages I–IV)
Radiation therapy
Chemotherapy
75-minute weekly classes for 10 weeks
Type: Integral Yoga
Wait-list controlQuality of Life
-FACT-B, SF-12
Psychosocial
-CES-D, PANAS, FACIT-Sp
Symptom
-FACT-F, PSQI

Littman et al., 2011 [14]Treatment: T1 = 32, T2 = 27
Control: T1 = 31, T2 = 27
Age range: 33–74
Mean age = 60
Breast (Stages 0–III)
>3 months post-hemotherapy and/or post-radiation
75-minute classes five times per week for 26 weeks (combination in-facility and home-based practice)
Type: Viniyoga
Wait-list control Quality of Life
-FACT-G
Symptom
-FACT-F

Moadel et al., 2007 [15]Treatment: T1 = 45, T2 = 45
Control: T1 = 26, T2 = 26
Age range: 28–75
Mean age = 54
Breast (Stages I–III)
Surgery
Radiation Therapy
Chemotherapy
Anti-estrogen Therapy
90 minute weekly classes for 12 weeks. Home practice encouraged
Type: Hatha Yoga
Wait-list control Quality of Life
-FACT-G
Psychosocial
-FACIT-Sp
Symptom
-FACT-F

Vadiraja et al., 2009a and b [16, 17]Treatment: T1 = 44, T2 = 42
Control: T1 = 44, T2 = 33
Age range: 30–70 
Mean age = 46
Breast (Stages II-III)
Radiation therapy
Minimum of 3 in-person 60-minute individual yoga sessions per week for 6 weeks. Home practice encouraged.
Type: Integrated Yoga Program
3-4 sessions of brief supportive therapy w/education Quality of Life
-EORTC QoL C30
Psychosocial
-PANAS, HADS

(b)

AuthorSample Cancer Type
and Treatment
Yoga InterventionOutcome Measures
Reported in Current Review

Bower et al., 2011 [18]T1 = 12, T2 = 11
Age range: 46–65
Mean age = 54
Breast (Stages 0–2)
All had completed radiation therapy or radiation therapy + chemotherapy
90-minute classes twice weekly for 12 weeks
Type: Iyengar Yoga
Quality of Life
-SF-36
Psychosocial
-BDI-II
Symptom
-PSQI, FSI

Danhauer et al., 2008 [19]T1 = 51, T2 = 43
Age range: 34–82
Mean age = 59
Ovarian ( )
Breast ( )
Radiation therapy ( )
Chemotherapy ( )
75-minute weekly classes for 10 weeks
Type: Integral Yoga
Quality of Life
-FACT-G, SF-12
Psychosocial
-CES-D, FACIT-Sp, PANAS, STAI
Symptom
-FACT-F

Duncan et al., 2008 [20]T1 = 24, T2 = 22
Age range: NR
Mean age = 49
Breast (42%)
Gynecologic (16.6%)
Lymphoma (12.5%)
Currently on or <6 months post treatment
90 minute weekly classes for 10 weeks
Type: Iyengar Yoga
Quality of Life
-FACT-G
Psychosocial
-FACIT-Sp

Galantino et al., 2011 [21]T1 = 10, T2 = 10
Age range: 50–71
Median age = 58
Breast (Stages I–III)
>4 weeks post-chemotherapy and/or post-radiation, all women taking aromatase inhibitors
90-minute classes twice weekly for 8 weeks, home practice encouraged
Type: Iyengar-inspired
Quality of Life
-FACT-B

Speed-Andrews et al., 2010 [22]T1 = 17, T2 = 17
Age range: not reported
Mean age = 54
Breast (Stages I–III)
Surgery ( )
Radiation therapy ( )
Chemotherapy ( )
Hormone therapy ( )
Two different sessions; 90 minute classes twice weekly for 6 weeks and 90 minute classes 22 times over 12 weeks
Type: Iyengar Yoga
Quality of Life
-FACT-B, SF-36
Psychosocial
-CES-D, STAI

Ülger and Yağlı, 2010 [23]T1 = 20, T2 = 20
Age range: 30–50
Mean age = 41
Breast
>6 months post-chemotherapy
60 minute weekly classes for 8 weeks
Type: Not specified (“Classical Yoga”)
Quality of Life
-NHP
Psychosocial
-STAI

Abbreviations: T1: baseline; T2: follow-up; SF-36 and SF-12: Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey; EORTC QLQ C30: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer-Quality of Life C30; FACT-B: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—Breast; FACT-G: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy—General; NHP: Nottingham Health Profile; BDI: Beck Depression Inventory; CES-D 20: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale—20 Item; STAI: State/Trait Anxiety Inventory; POMS: Profile of Mood States; PANAS: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule; FACIT-Sp: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being; HADS: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; BFI: Brief Fatigue Inventory; PSQI: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; FSI: Fatigue Symptom Inventory; FACT-F: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue. NR: Not Reported.