Yoga Program for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Overseen By Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Cognitive deficits, Exercise contraindications, Yoga participation, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Dyadic Yoga Program for non-small cell lung cancer?

Research suggests that yoga can help improve quality of life, mood, and physical function in lung cancer patients. It may also reduce fatigue and depression, which are common issues for cancer patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is yoga safe for people with cancer?

Research shows that yoga is generally safe for people with cancer, including those who have undergone treatments like radiotherapy. It has been studied for its effects on physical and mental well-being, and no significant safety concerns have been reported. ^{1 2 4 6 7}

How is the Dyadic Yoga Program treatment different from other treatments for non-small cell lung cancer?

The Dyadic Yoga Program is unique because it involves partner-supported yoga, which aims to improve both psychosocial and physical function, potentially enhancing quality of life for lung cancer patients. Unlike traditional treatments that focus on medical interventions, this program emphasizes mind-body practices to address the emotional and physical challenges faced by patients. ^{1 5 7 8 9}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of the trial is to test the usability, feasibility and acceptability of an unsupervised, appbased yoga program for participants undergoing thoracic RT and their caregivers.

Research Team

Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer undergoing thoracic radiotherapy and their caregivers. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants must meet certain health conditions to ensure safety.

Inclusion Criteria

I and my caregiver are both over 18.

Both patient and caregiver must have regular access to Wifi/High speed internet access

Have a family caregiver willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria

Experiences cognitive deficits that would impede the completion of self-report instruments as deemed by their attending oncologist

Participants who participated in part 1 are ineligible to participate in part 2 of this protocol.

Experiences contraindications to exercise as determined by the clinical team

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Usability Testing

Initial usability testing of the yoga app prototypes to determine user task completion and identify navigation issues

4 weeks

Feasibility and Acceptability Testing

Measure feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the app-based yoga program in 20 patient-caregiver dyads

6 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Dyadic Yoga Program

Trial Overview The study is testing an app-based yoga program designed for lung cancer patients receiving thoracic radiotherapy and their family caregivers. The focus is on the ease of use, practicality, and satisfaction with the program when used without supervision.

Participant Groups

Group I: Thinking Out Loud Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be identified using the electronic clinic appointment systems for the thoracic radiation clinic and prescreened for their date of birth (i.e. minimum 18 years old), disease, treatment schedule, ECOG and other criteria (e.g., exercise intolerance, cognitive deficits).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Findings from Research

A 14-week yoga intervention was feasible for 7 survivors of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with participants able to practice without respiratory distress and maintaining over 95% attendance.

The yoga program led to significant improvements in mood, sleep quality, and overall quality of life, along with a decrease in salivary cortisol levels, suggesting potential benefits for cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of the feasibility and outcomes of yoga for lung cancer survivors. Fouladbakhsh, JM., Davis, JE., Yarandi, HN.[2014]

Therapeutic yoga has been shown to improve various aspects of quality of life for cancer patients, including better sleep, reduced anxiety and depression, and enhanced spiritual well-being, based on a review of multiple studies.

The absence of side effects and the positive feedback from participants suggest that yoga could be a beneficial complementary therapy for cancer patients, although the studies had methodological limitations that warrant further research.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of yoga on patients with cancer: our current understanding. Côté, A., Daneault, S.[2022]

A 12-week pilot trial involving 46 patients with lung cancer showed that a low-moderate intensity yoga program significantly improved psychosocial outcomes like fatigue, depression, and sleep disturbance in 54% of participants, along with quality of life improvements in 77%.

The study also found that physical functions such as flexibility and strength improved in a high percentage of participants, with no serious adverse events reported, suggesting that partner-supported yoga could be a safe and beneficial complementary therapy during cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and potential benefits of partner-supported yoga on psychosocial and physical function among lung cancer patients. Sullivan, DR., Medysky, ME., Tyzik, AL., et al.[2022]

Yoga significantly reduces distress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, indicating its potential as a supportive therapy during treatment.

While yoga shows moderate benefits for fatigue and emotional function, the evidence for its effects on overall psychological outcomes and functional well-being is limited, suggesting the need for further research with larger sample sizes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Utilizing Yoga in Oncologic Patients Treated with Radiotherapy: Review. Tolia, M., Tsoukalas, N., Nikolaou, M., et al.[2022]

The Vivekananda Yoga intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable for lung cancer patients and their caregivers, with 60% of participants completing the program and 95.5% rating it as very useful.

Significant improvements were observed in patients' mental health and caregivers' sleep disturbances, indicating potential benefits for quality of life outcomes, although further research is needed to confirm these effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vivekananda Yoga Program for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers. Milbury, K., Mallaiah, S., Lopez, G., et al.[2022]

A one-on-one yoga therapy session delivered via telehealth significantly reduced physical and global distress in cancer patients, with notable improvements in anxiety and fatigue, based on data from 95 patient encounters.

The study highlights the potential of yoga therapy as an effective complementary treatment in oncology, suggesting that even a single session can lead to meaningful symptom relief, warranting further research on long-term benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Yoga Therapy in Cancer Care via Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Mallaiah, S., Narayanan, S., Wagner, R., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of the feasibility and outcomes of yoga for lung cancer survivors. [2014]

2. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Yoga therapy to reduce fatigue in cancer: effects of reminder e-mails and long-term efficacy. [2022]

3. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of yoga on patients with cancer: our current understanding. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical and psychosocial benefits of yoga in cancer patients and survivors, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility and potential benefits of partner-supported yoga on psychosocial and physical function among lung cancer patients. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Utilizing Yoga in Oncologic Patients Treated with Radiotherapy: Review. [2022]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

No effects were found in favor of Hatha or Iyengar yoga exercises for improving cancer-related fatigue, depression symptoms, or quality of life: a systematic review with meta-analysis and metaregression. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vivekananda Yoga Program for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Yoga Therapy in Cancer Care via Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic. [2022]