Iyengar-Yoga Compared to Exercise as a Therapeutic Intervention during (Neo) adjuvant Therapy in Women with Stage I-III Breast Cancer: Health-Related Quality of Life, Mindfulness, Spirituality, Life Satisfaction, and Cancer-Related Fatigue

This study aims to test the effects of yoga on health-related quality of life, life satisfaction, cancer-related fatigue, mindfulness, and spirituality compared to conventional therapeutic exercises during (neo) adjuvant cytotoxic and endocrine therapy in women with breast cancer. In a randomized controlled trial 92 women with breast cancer undergoing oncological treatment were randomly enrolled for a yoga intervention (YI) (n = 45) or for a physical exercise intervention (PEI) (n = 47). Measurements were obtained before (t(0)) and after the intervention (t(1)) as well as 3 months after finishing intervention (t(2)) using standardized questionnaires. Life satisfaction and fatigue improved under PEI (p < 0.05) but not under YI (t(0) to t(2)). Regarding quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30) a direct effect (t(0) to t(1); p < 0.001) of YI was found on role and emotional functioning, while under PEI only emotional functioning improved. Significant improvements (p < 0.001) were observed at both t(1) and t(2) also for symptom scales in both groups: dyspnea, appetite loss, constipation, and diarrhea. There was no significant difference between therapies for none of the analyzed variables neither for t(1) nor for t(2). During chemotherapy, yoga was not seen as more helpful than conventional therapeutic exercises. This does not argue against its use in the recovery phase.