Yoga as a survivorship tool in cancer patients and caregivers.

Authors

Winston Tan

Winston Tan

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Winston Tan , Meghna Ailawadhi

Organizations

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Research Funding

Other

Background: Preliminary data suggest that yoga is one of the most popular complementary and alternative therapies and most likely to improve quality of life. In spite of the methodologic limits,studies suggest an improvement in a range of symptoms of patients with cancer among those who did yoga. The absence of side effects and the excellent cost-benefit ratio make it a very interesting symptom management tool. Methods: We advertised to our cancer patients the availability of a free yoga class twice a week. (August 2016-present). This was run by one trained instructor. All patients with different cancers were allowed to participate including caregivers. A post session survey was done at one time point to evaluate the benefits of the class. Results: Usually between 8-15 individuals attend the class. In one session a written survey was conducted, 13 patients/caregiver agreed to fill up the survey. 9 were patients (breast , sarcoma, lymphoma, brain tumor melanoma and spine tumor) and 5 were caregivers.4 never had any prior yoga class before, the reasons for attending the class included stress relief, improve balance, help pain, support spouse, suggestion by MD and exercise. Among those who answered the question 7 were new to yoga 0-3 month, they mainly did restorative and gentle yoga. The perceived benefits among attendees included being more relaxed, calm down, peaceful, increase strength, more mindful and better health. 8/13 perceived that it did improve quality of life very much, 3/13 quite a bit 1 a little. All were very satisfied with the yoga sessions. Conclusions: In an undifferentiated group of cancer patients, yoga classes participants have positive perceived benefits in majority of the individuals who did restorative/gentle yoga. This led to symptom control and also had significant participant satisfaction.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2018 Cancer Survivorship Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Care Coordination, Cost, and Education; Communication and Transitions; Health Promotion

Track

Care Coordination, Cost, and Education,Health Promotion,Communication and Transitions

Sub Track

Energy Balance: Diet, Exercise, and Metabolic Syndrome

Citation

J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl 7S; abstr 90)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2018.36.7_suppl.90

Abstract #

90

Poster Bd #

D22

Abstract Disclosures

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