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The effect of YOCAS©® yoga for musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer survivors on hormonal therapy

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Abstract

Up to 50 % of breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitor therapy report musculoskeletal symptoms such as joint and muscle pain, significantly impacting treatment adherence and discontinuation rates. We conducted a secondary data analysis of a nationwide, multi-site, phase II/III randomized, controlled, clinical trial examining the efficacy of yoga for improving musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer survivors currently receiving hormone therapy (aromatase inhibitors [AI] or tamoxifen [TAM]). Breast cancer survivors currently receiving AI (N = 95) or TAM (N = 72) with no participation in yoga during the previous 3 months were randomized into 2 arms: (1) standard care monitoring and (2) standard care plus the 4-week yoga intervention (2x/week; 75 min/session) and included in this analysis. The yoga intervention utilized the UR Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS©®) program consisting of breathing exercises, 18 gentle Hatha and restorative yoga postures, and meditation. Musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed pre- and post-intervention. At baseline, AI users reported higher levels of general pain, muscle aches, and total physical discomfort than TAM users (all P ≤ 0.05). Among all breast cancer survivors on hormonal therapy, participants in the yoga group demonstrated greater reductions in musculoskeletal symptoms such as general pain, muscle aches and total physical discomfort from pre- to post-intervention than the control group (all P ≤ 0.05). The severity of musculoskeletal symptoms was higher for AI users compared to TAM users. Among breast cancer survivors on hormone therapy, the brief community-based YOCAS©® intervention significantly reduced general pain, muscle aches, and physical discomfort.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Susan Rosenthal, MD, for her support on this project. We extend special thanks to the cancer survivors, yoga instructors, and research staff in the University of Rochester Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) Research Base and at each of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) CCOP affiliates who recruited and followed participants in this study. We thank the NCI and the Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine for their funding support of this project.

Conflicts of interest

The authors indicate no potential conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Luke J. Peppone, Michelle C. Janelsins, Charles Kamen & Karen M. Mustian

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Supriya G. Mohile

  3. School of Health & Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina – Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA

    Lisa K. Sprod

  4. Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Jennifer S. Gewandter

  5. Hematology Oncology Associates of Central New York, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Jeffrey J. Kirshner

  6. Kansas City Clinical Oncology Research Program, Prairie Village, KS, USA

    Rakesh Gaur

  7. Pacific Cancer Research Consortium NCORP, Seattle, WA, USA

    Janet Ruzich

  8. Heartland Cancer Research NCORP, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Benjamin T. Esparaz

Authors
  1. Luke J. Peppone
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  2. Michelle C. Janelsins
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Correspondence to Luke J. Peppone.

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Peppone, L.J., Janelsins, M.C., Kamen, C. et al. The effect of YOCAS©® yoga for musculoskeletal symptoms among breast cancer survivors on hormonal therapy. Breast Cancer Res Treat 150, 597–604 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-015-3351-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-015-3351-1

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