Yoga for Cancer

Overseen By Kathrin Milbury, MA,PHD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Regular mind-body practice

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 16

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether a yoga program can improve quality of life, enhance physical performance, and manage symptoms for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, along with their partners. The study offers different participation levels: some couples join yoga sessions together, others may have the patient attend alone, or receive standard care with an option for yoga later. The trial aims to determine if yoga can reduce stress, improve sleep, and combat fatigue. It suits those with lung, head and neck, or esophageal cancer who have a partner willing to participate. Participants should not have practiced yoga or similar mind-body exercises regularly in the past year. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore yoga's benefits for cancer patients and their partners without the constraints of traditional clinical trial phases.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on yoga and stretching for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

What prior data suggests that this yoga program is safe for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy and their partners?

Research has shown that yoga is generally safe and well-tolerated. Current evidence suggests that yoga does not cause serious side effects. Studies indicate that yoga can help people with cancer by reducing tiredness and anxiety, improving sleep, and enhancing quality of life. One study suggested that yoga might also help slow down physical decline for those undergoing radiation therapy. In short, yoga appears to be a safe option for cancer patients and their caregivers. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how yoga could enhance the quality of life for couples dealing with cancer. Unlike typical cancer treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or medication that focus directly on attacking cancer cells, this approach looks at improving overall well-being through holistic practices. The unique aspect here is how yoga sessions can be tailored to both patients and their partners, potentially strengthening their emotional and physical resilience during a challenging time. By integrating both in-person and virtual sessions, this trial also offers flexible access, which could make it more convenient and appealing for participants.

What evidence suggests that this yoga program is effective for improving quality of life in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy?

Research has shown that yoga can be very helpful for people with cancer. Studies have found that yoga lowers feelings of distress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. It also boosts their quality of life and physical abilities. For example, one study found that patients who practiced yoga during radiation therapy improved more in physical functioning than those who did not. Additionally, yoga has moderately reduced fatigue. In this trial, participants will be assigned to different yoga programs, such as Group I (DY), where patients and their partners attend yoga sessions, or Group II (PY), where only patients attend. These findings suggest that yoga could be a useful addition to support overall well-being during cancer treatment. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kathrin Milbury

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

PATIENTS ONLY: Diagnosed with a lung cancer, head and neck cancer, or esophageal cancer to receive at least 25 fractions over 5 weeks of radiation therapy (RT)

PATIENTS ONLY: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of =< 2

PATIENTS ONLY: Having a spouse or cohabitating partner (same or opposite sex) willing to participate

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Radiation Therapy

Patients undergo radiation therapy while participating in yoga sessions 3 days per week for up to 15 sessions, lasting 60 minutes each, in-person or via videoconferencing

5 weeks

15 sessions (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

Follow-up at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months

Optional Yoga Program

After data collection, couples may participate in the DY or PY program of their choice, and partners are offered intervention materials along with optional yoga sessions

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Yoga Program

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group III (WLC) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients and their partners receive usual care. Once data collection is completed, couples may participate in the DY or PY program of their choice over 60 minutes each. Partners are also offered intervention materials along with five 60 minute optional yoga sessions.

Group II: Group II (PY) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients attend yoga sessions 3 days per week for up to 15 sessions, lasting 60 minutes each, in-person or via videoconferencing over the course of radiation therapy. Once data collection is completed, partners will be offered intervention materials, and encouraged to attend yoga classes at the Integrative Medicine Clinic.

Group III: Group I (DY) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients and their partners attend yoga sessions 3 days per week for up to 15 sessions, lasting 60 minutes each, in-person or via videoconferencing over the course of radiation therapy.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6069620/

Utilizing Yoga in Oncologic Patients Treated with Radiotherapy Results: Yoga was found to have a substantial benefit in cancer patients' distress, anxiety, and depression. It also demonstrated a moderate impact on fatigue ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04607590

Yoga Program for Improving the Quality of Life in Couples ... Study Overview. This clinical trial seeks to learn if a yoga program can improve physical performance, quality of life and symptom burden in cancer patients ...

3. auntminnie.com auntminnie.com/clinical-news/radiation-oncology-therapy/article/15608997/yoga-boosts-quality-of-life-for-women-undergoing-radiotherapy

Yoga boosts quality of life for women undergoing ... The yoga group had significantly greater increases in physical functioning scores than the control group at one and three months after radiotherapy. At one, ...

4. karger.com karger.com/pps/article/94/4/289/926167/Effect-of-Yoga-on-Psychological-and-Spiritual

Effect of Yoga on Psychological and Spiritual Outcomes in ... Conclusion: Yoga effectively reduces anxiety and depression and improves spiritual well-being and emotional well-being in cancer, underscoring ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748924003031/pdf

The impact of exercise during radiotherapy on treatment ... The results indicate that exercise during radiation therapy has a significant positive impact on reducing cancer-related fatigue compared to the control group ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10696314/

Assessment of the Impact of Yoga on the Quality of Life ... According to the safety information that is currently available, yoga is not associated with severe adverse outcomes. There is no concrete ...

7. cancernetwork.com cancernetwork.com/view/yoga-may-reduce-physical-decline-in-hnc-population-receiving-radiotherapy

Yoga May Reduce Physical Decline in HNC Population ... A yoga program that included caregivers may reduce adverse effects (AEs) associated with physical functioning decline in patients with head and ...

8. advancesradonc.org advancesradonc.org/article/S2452-1094(23)00178-1/fulltext

An Integrative Medicine Educational Program for ... The primary outcomes were intention to disclose CHA use and self-efficacy. Qualitative data were assessed with a thematic approach. Results.

9. apm.amegroups.org apm.amegroups.org/article/view/59097/html

Effects of yoga on health-related quality, physical health and ... Conclusions: Yoga may benefit to reduce fatigue, depression and anxiety, improve sleep disturbance, and improve QoL in breast cancer patients receiving ...