Benefits of yoga for cancer patients

Cancer patients practicing yoga can reduce fatigue, improve sleep, aid recovery after surgery, and reduce anxiety and depression.

Studies show that yoga can help people with cancer both mentally and physically. While yoga cannot fight cancer, it can ease some of the side effects of the disease and its treatments.

Yoga can reduce stress and increase flexibility through its practice of postures, breathing techniques, meditation, and mindfulness exercises. Studies show that less strenuous yoga, such as gentle hatha yoga and restorative yoga, is better for people with cancer. Here are some of the benefits of practicing yoga if possible.

Reduce fatigue

Cancer-related fatigue before, during, and after treatment affects daily life. A small 2007 study from Duke University Medical Center found that women with breast cancer who practiced yoga twice a week reported less fatigue by the end of eight weeks. Another study published in the Oncology Nursing Society in 2023 found that breathing exercises like Bhramari pranayama helped reduce fatigue in some people undergoing radiation therapy for cancer.

Improve sleep quality

Stress and side effects of cancer treatment often interfere with sleep, leaving people restless. A yoga program that combines gentle postures, breathing, and meditation reduces insomnia in people with cancer.

Tibetan yoga exercises such as breathing, mindfulness techniques and gentle postures in a 2004 study by the University of Texas (USA) helped some people with lymphoma fall asleep quickly, sleep more and use less sleeping pills.

Yoga helps relax, reduce fatigue, and improve sleep. Photo: Freepik — Yoga helps relax, reduce fatigue, and improve sleep. Photo: *Freepik*

Post-operative recovery support

Many women feel that breast cancer surgery can affect their recovery. Stress before surgery is associated with more pain, longer hospital stays, and more complications.

A 2008 Indian study found that women who practiced yoga before surgery had better outcomes including shorter hospital stays, faster wound recovery, and reduced fatigue.

Reduce side effects of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy kills cancer cells and can come with side effects. A type of nerve damage called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) often occurs in the hands and feet with tingling, pain and burning, muscle weakness...

In 2021, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (USA) looked at how yoga and meditation affected 20 patients with this condition. After 8 weeks of practice, patients had better flexibility and balance, and fewer falls. Study participants also felt that this form of exercise helped them reduce pain, improve function, and relax.

Good for mental health

Anxiety, stress, insecurity, depression... are common psychological states in cancer patients. Many studies show that yoga can relieve them. For example, a 2017 study by Wake Forest School of Medicine (USA) proved that yoga can reduce negative feelings, sadness, depression, anxiety; help to be happier...

However, not all studies have found that yoga improves the mental health of people with cancer, so if a cancer patient wants to practice yoga to achieve the above benefits, they should consult their doctor.

Kim Uyen (According to Web MD )

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