Alejandro Chaoul

Randomized, Controlled Trial of Yoga in Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy

PURPOSE Previous research incorporating yoga (YG) into radiotherapy (XRT) for women with breast cancer finds improved quality of life (QOL). However, shortcomings in this research limit the findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with stages 0 to III breast cancer were recruited before starting XRT and were randomly assigned to YG (n = 53) or stretching (ST; n = 56) three times a week for 6 weeks during XRT or waitlist (WL; n = 54) control. Self-report measures of QOL (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form survey; primary outcomes), fatigue, depression, and sleep quality, and five saliva samples per day for 3 consecutive days were collected at baseline, end of treatment, and 1, 3, and 6 months later. RESULTS The YG group had significantly greater increases in physical component scale scores compared with the WL group at 1 and 3 months after XRT (P = .01 and P = .01). At 1, 3, and 6 months, the YG group had greater increases in physical functioning compared with both ST and WL groups (P < .05), with ST and WL differences at only 3 months (P < .02). The group differences were similar for general health reports. By the end of XRT, the YG and ST groups also had a reduction in fatigue (P < .05). There were no group differences for mental health and sleep quality. Cortisol slope was steepest for the YG group compared with the ST and WL groups at the end (P = .023 and P = .008) and 1 month after XRT (P = .05 and P = .04). CONCLUSION YG improved QOL and physiological changes associated with XRT beyond the benefits of simple ST exercises, and these benefits appear to have long-term durability.

Tibetan sound meditation for cognitive dysfunction: results of a randomized controlled pilot trial

Although chemotherapy‐induced cognitive impairment is common among breast cancer patients, evidence for effective interventions addressing cognitive deficits is limited. This randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a Tibetan Sound Meditation (TSM) program to improve cognitive function and quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Couple-based Tibetan yoga program for lung cancer patients and their caregivers

The cancer diagnosis and treatment does not only reduce patients’ but also family caregivers’ quality of life (QOL) (1). Caregivers may experience clinical levels of depression, sleep disturbances and fatigue, (2) which may negatively impact their ability to provide quality care and support (3) and may exacerbate patient distress (4). As lung cancer is associated with more debilitating sequelae than any other type of cancer (5) resulting in a high need for care and support, caregivers of lung cancer patients may be particularly vulnerable to poor QOL (6). Although urgently needed, supportive care interventions that manage symptoms and QOL in both lung cancer patients and caregivers are generally lacking. Mind-body interventions such as yoga may improve various aspects of QOL (7); yet, previous investigations have exclude lung cancer patients as well as caregivers. Thus, we pilot-tested a couple-based Tibetan Yoga (TYC) program in lung cancer. Because the practice involves gentle, simple movements performed in a seated position, controlled breathing exercises, and meditation techniques fostering connectedness between patient and caregiver, we expected this type of yoga practice to be well suited for the needs of this vulnerable population. We examined the feasibility and preliminary efficacy regarding QOL outcomes of this dyadic supportive care approach. We incorporated the intervention into patients’ 6-week radiation treatment plans, as the program may be especially useful at this time to buffer treatment side effects and psychological distress that ensues.

Vivekananda Yoga Program for Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers

Background. The primary purpose of this study was to establish the feasibility of a couple-based Vivekananda Yoga (VKC) intervention in lung cancer patients and caregivers. Secondly, we examined preliminary efficacy regarding quality of life (QOL) outcomes. Method. In this single-arm feasibility trial, patients with lung cancer undergoing radiotherapy and their caregivers participated in a 15-session VKC program that focused on the interconnectedness of the dyad. We assessed pre-and post-intervention levels of fatigue, sleep disturbances, psychological distress, overall QOL, spirituality, and relational closeness. We tracked feasibility data, and participants completed program evaluations. Results. We approached 28 eligible dyads of which 15 (53%) consented and 9 (60%) completed the intervention. Patients (mean age = 73 years, 63% female, all stage III) and caregivers (mean age = 62 years, 38% female, 63% spouses) completed a mean of 10 sessions and 95.5% of them rated the program as very useful. Paired t tests revealed a significant increase in patients’ mental health (d = 0.84; P = .04) and a significant decrease in caregivers’ sleep disturbances (d = 1.44; P = .02). Although not statistically significant, for patients, effect sizes for change scores were medium for benefit finding and small for distress (d = 0.65 and 0.37, respectively). For caregivers, medium effects were found for improvement in physical functioning (d = 0.50). Conclusion. This novel supportive care program appears to be safe, feasible, acceptable, and subjectively useful for lung cancer patients and their caregivers and lends support for further study.

Mind-Body Practices in Cancer Care

Being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease such as cancer and undergoing treatment can cause unwanted distress and interferes with quality of life. Uncontrolled stress can have a negative effect on a number of biological systems and processes leading to negative health outcomes. While some distress is normal, it is not benign and must be addressed, as failure to do so may compromise health and QOL outcomes. We present the evidence for the role of stress in cancer biology and mechanisms demonstrating how distress is associated with worse clinical outcomes. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network states that all patients be screened with the single-item distress thermometer and to also indicate the source of distress and to get appropriate referral. In addition to the many conventional approaches for managing distress from the fields of psychology and psychiatry, many patients are seeking strategies to manage their distress that are outside conventional medicine such as mind-body techniques. Mind-body techniques such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and qigong have been found to lower distress and lead to improvements in different aspects of quality of life. It is essential that the standard of care in oncology include distress screening and the delivery of different techniques to help patients manage the psychosocial challenges of diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Examining Mediators and Moderators of Yoga for Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy

Hypothesis. This study examines moderators and mediators of a yoga intervention targeting quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes in women with breast cancer receiving radiotherapy.Methods. Women undergoing 6 weeks of radiotherapy were randomized to a yoga (YG; n = 53) or stretching (ST; n = 56) intervention or a waitlist control group (WL; n = 54). Depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances were measured at baseline. Mediator (posttraumatic stress symptoms, benefit finding, and cortisol slope) and outcome (36-item Short Form [SF]-36 mental and physical component scales [MCS and PCS]) variables were assessed at baseline, end-of-treatment, and 1-, 3-, and 6-months posttreatment. Results. Baseline depressive symptoms (P = .03) and sleep disturbances (P < .01) moderated the Group × Time effect on MCS, but not PCS. Women with high baseline depressive symptoms in YG reported marginally higher 3-month MCS than their counterparts in WL (P = .11). Women with high baseline sleep disturbances in YG reported higher 3-months MCS than their counterparts in WL (P < .01) and higher 6-month MCS than their counterparts in ST (P = .01). YG led to greater benefit finding than ST and WL across the follow-up (P = .01). Three-month benefit finding partially mediated the effect of YG on 6-month PCS. Posttraumatic stress symptoms and cortisol slope did not mediate treatment effect on QOL. Conclusion. Yoga may provide the greatest mental-health–related QOL benefits for those experiencing pre-radiotherapy sleep disturbance and depressive symptoms. Yoga may improve physical-health–related QOL by increasing ability to find benefit in the cancer experience.

An Exploration of the Effects of Tibetan Yoga on Patients’ Psychological Well-Being and Experience of Lymphoma An Experimental Embedded Mixed Methods Study

As an emergent care model combining conventional with complementary therapies, integrative interventions challenge evaluation, necessitating approaches capable of capturing complex, multilevel interactions. This article evaluates the effects of a Tibetan yoga intervention on lymphoma patients’ quality of life and cancer experience. Our methodological aims were to explore differences in therapeutic effect between treatment and control group using qualitative data, and explain equivocal findings between data sets. Use of both data transformation techniques—qualitizing and quantitizing—within an experimental embedded design comparing and integrating data between data sets and treatment groups allowed us to develop this innovative evaluative approach. Findings clarify convergence and divergence between data sets, explore participants’ complex cancer experience, and capture dimensions and intervention effects inaccessible through either method alone.

Inpatient Acupuncture at a Major Cancer Center

Background: Use of complementary and integrative therapies is increasing among cancer patients, but data regarding the impact treatments such as acupuncture have in an inpatient oncology setting are limited. Methods: Patients who received acupuncture in an inpatient hospital environment between December 2014 and December 2015 were asked to complete a modified Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS; 0-10 scale) before and after each visit. Pre- and post-treatment scores were examined for each symptom using paired t tests. Results: A total of 172 inpatients were treated with acupuncture in their hospital beds (257 visits). Thirty percent (n = 51) received at least one additional follow-up treatment (mean visits/patient = 1.5). Completion rate of the modified ESAS after acupuncture was 42%. The most common reasons for not completing the post-treatment ESAS were “patient too drowsy” or “patient fell asleep” (72%). For patients who reported a baseline symptom score ≥1, the greatest improvements (mean change ± SD) after acupuncture on the initial visit were found for pain (−1.8 ± 2.2; n = 69; P < .0001), nausea (−1.2 ± 1.9; n = 30; P < .001), anxiety (−0.8 ± 1.8; n = 36; P = .01), drowsiness (−0.6 ± 1.8; n = 57; P = .02), and fatigue (−0.4 ± 1.1; n = 67; P = .008). For patients who received at least one follow-up visit, significant improvement from baseline was found for sleep disturbance (−2.5 ± 4.4; n = 17; P = .03), anxiety (−2.4 ± 1.7; n = 9; P = .002), pain (−2.3 ± 2.7; n = 20; P = .001), and drowsiness (−2.0 ± 2.6; n = 16; P = .008). Conclusions: Patients who received inpatient acupuncture at a major cancer center experienced significant improvement after treatment for pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety, drowsiness, nausea, and fatigue.

Music therapy for patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant

Objectives. This study examines the short- and long-term QOL benefits of a music therapy intervention for patients recovering from hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods. Ninety allogeneic HSCT patients, after transplant, were randomized to receive ISO-principle (i.e., mood matching) based music therapy (MT; n = 29), unstructured music (UM; n = 30), or usual care (UC; n = 31) for four weeks. The ISO principle posits that patients may shift their mood from one state to another by listening to music that is “equal to” the individuals initial mood state and subsequently listening to music selections that gradually shift in tempo and mood to match the patients desired disposition. Participants in MT and UM groups developed two audio CDs to help them feel more relaxed and energized and were instructed to use the CDs to improve their mood as needed. Short-term effects on mood and long-term effects on QOL were examined. Results. MT and UM participants reported improved mood immediately after listening to CDs; the within-group effect was greater for UM participants compared to MT participants. Participant group was not associated with long-term QOL outcomes. Conclusions. Music listening improves mood acutely but was not associated with long-term benefits in this study.

Randomized trial of Tibetan yoga in patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy

The current randomized trial examined the effects of a Tibetan yoga program (TYP) versus a stretching program (STP) and usual care (UC) on sleep and fatigue in women with breast cancer who were undergoing chemotherapy.