Yoga for Cancer Symptom Management: A Review of its Therapeutic Benefits on Breast Cancer, Quality of Life, and Psychological Distress.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment often cause psychological distress and reduced quality of life (QoL). Research suggests that patients with depressive symptoms have lower survival rates. Mind-body interventions, such as yoga and meditation, have been recognized for their potential to alleviate symptoms of burden and distress in cancer patients. This narrative review examines the role of yoga in managing symptoms and improving the QoL in breast cancer patients. It synthesizes findings from studies conducted during treatment and in the survivorship phase. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed database search. The search, filtered for clinical trials, identified 216 studies on yoga and meditation. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included to ensure methodological rigor. Yoga and Meditation interventions show significant benefits in reducing stress, improving mood states, and enhancing QoL in cancer patients. Despite methodological limitations, several large, multicentric trials have demonstrated robust evidence supporting the efficacy of yoga and meditation in improving psychological well-being and QoL in breast cancer patients. Further high-quality research is needed to establish standardized protocols and enhance clinical implementation.