research on yoga for cancer patients and survivors
Oncology Yoga Research
The body of evidence on therapeutic effects of yoga interventions for cancer patients and survivors is robust and growing. A literature search on “yoga” and “cancer” in the U.S. National Library of Medicine (PubMed) yielded 1,111 (March 2026) results including observational studies, systematic reviews, and clinical trials. Although a full literature review is beyond the scope of this paper, the studies summarized here suggest yoga can not only help adult cancer patients and survivors manage symptoms and side effects, but also help them lead longer, healthier lives.
While studies on yoga for cancer populations vary in their methods and sample sizes, this overview of medical research incorporates systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials whenever possible. The studies summarized herein provide substantial evidence on the benefits of cancer-specific yoga interventions at clinically meaningful endpoints.
The research includes a variety of cancers and stages (although breast cancer has been the most studied) and observes patients before, during, and after treatment. While yoga is no cure-all, there is substantial evidence that well-crafted interventions have measurable positive effects on health and healing.
Ample research suggests yoga interventions increase strength and flexibility; improve balance and mobility; lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels; support healthy body weight; improve psychological well-being; lessen fatigue; improve sleep; reduce anxiety and stress; improve quality of life; and enhance the immune system. These effects have been explored in both healthy populations and among people with a variety of diseases and disorders including chronic pain, arthritis, heart conditions, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, depression, anxiety, addictions, and cancers.
research article
Oncology Yoga at a Turning Point: What a Major 2026 Review Means for the Cancer Care Community
A peer-reviewed narrative review published this month in Cureus adds meaningful weight to what oncology yoga professionals have long understood in practice. Spanning 13 studies and five cancer types, the research documents consistent reductions in fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, and pain — alongside measurable changes in inflammatory markers directly linked to treatment tolerance. The findings are clear: effective oncology yoga requires individualized assessment, clinical knowledge, and oncology-specific training.
RESEARCH WHITEPAPER
Yoga Interventions for Cancer Patients and Survivors
A robust review of existing research on the impact of yoga on cancer survivors and patients and the short- and long-term side effects cancer survivors face. Plus an initial guide to healthcare professionals on how to include a yoga intervention in their institution.
Systematic Review
The Effectiveness of Yoga on Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
By DOI: 10.1188/21.ONF.207-228
Synthesis: Yoga interventions had a positive effect in reducing CRF among patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, but the adherence to yoga was low. Mixed types of yoga, in addition to supervised and self-practicing strategies, were associated with increased patient adherence and improved CRF.
Implications for Practice: Yoga appears to be a safe and effective exercise for the management of CRF during chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy; however, additional high-quality studies are needed to define an optimal yoga intervention strategy.
research trial
Evaluating a Structured Yoga Practice on Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy / Biotherapy in Cancer Patients
By Patricia Johnson, BS, RN, OCN, CBCN; Carlyn Haag, MS, RN-BC, CCRN-K; Mary Nolan, RN, OCN UVMHN
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a structured yoga program on specific physiological and psychosocial side effects in patients undergoing active treatment with chemotherapy/biotherapy.
Background: Eight of the most commonly experienced physiological and psychosocial side effects of cancer chemotherapy/biotherapy are pain, tiredness, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, depression, and anxiety. Yoga is a complementary health approach recognized by the National Institutes of Health.
As published, Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship on September 2019, Vol 10, No 9.
"Yoga is as scientific as it is spiritual."
- Tari Prinster
research trial
Establishing “Y4C” as the Hospital-Based Gold-Standard Yoga for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Background and Purpose: The benefits of yoga in improving cancer treatment and survivorship have been investigated in numerous conditions with a variety of yoga traditions. Within the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute, Hartford Hospital, yoga has been offered to cancer patients by numerous practitioners, with different training and expertise. Often this results in difficulty for patients, families and clinicians in selecting an optimal yoga referral and treatment. Integrative Medicine partnered with Yoga for Cancer “Y4C” creator Tari Prinster to evaluate establishing Y4C as the “gold standard” program for our cancer community. Therefore our purpose was to assess the feasibility of:
- Training high quality yoga providers in the Y4C method
Developing an IRB approved protocol with QOL and Y4C outcomes, - Recruit cancer patients into the hospital-based Y4C program.
research trial
Yoga for depression and anxiety symptoms in people with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
By Maria Gonzalez, Michaela C Pascoe, Guoyan Yang, Michael de Manincor , Suzanne Grant, Judith Lacey, Joseph Firth, Jerome Sarris
Objective: Cancer and its treatment can lead to a variety of physical and emotional concerns impacting on those affected, including subclinical or clinical depression and anxiety, which in turn have a significant impact on wellbeing, quality of life and survival. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effect of yoga-based interventions on self-reported depression and anxiety symptoms in people with cancer in randomized controlled trials.
Conclusions: This review provides evidence that in people with cancer, yoga-based interventions are associated with amelioration of depression and anxiety symptoms and therefore a promising therapeutic modality for their management. However, the potential for risk of bias together with control group design challenges means the results should be interpreted with caution.
research review
Yoga-Specific Enhancement of Quality of Life Among Women With Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Exploratory Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
By Daline El-Hashimi, Kevin M Gorey
Physical activities during and after cancer treatment have favorable psychosocial effects. Increasingly, yoga has become a popular approach to improving the quality of life (QoL) of women with breast cancer. However, the extant synthetic evidence on yoga has not used other exercise comparison conditions. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically assess yoga-specific effects relative to any other physical exercise intervention (eg, aerobics) for women with breast cancer. QoL was the primary outcome of interest. Eight randomized controlled trials with 545 participants were included. The sample-weighted synthesis at immediate postintervention revealed marginally statistically and modest practically significant differences suggesting yoga’s potentially greater effectiveness: d = 0.14, P = .10. However, at longer term follow-up, no statistically or practically significant between-group difference was observed. This meta-analysis preliminarily demonstrated that yoga is probably as effective as other exercise modalities in improving the QoL of women with breast cancer. Both interventions were associated with clinically significant improvements in QoL. Nearly all of the yoga intervention programs, however, were very poorly resourced. Larger and better controlled trials of well-endowed yoga programs are needed.
research article
Yoga for cancer survivors with chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy: Health‐related quality of life outcomes
By W. Iris Zhi, Raymond Baser Ting Bao, Dristi Talukder, Qing S. Li, Tina Paul, Clare Patterson, Lauren Piulson, Christina Seluzicki, Mary L. Galantino
Background: Yoga is a meditative movement therapy focused on mind-body aware- ness. The impact of yoga on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is unclear.
Methods: We conducted a pilot randomized wait-list controlled trial of 8 weeks of yoga (n = 21) versus wait-list control (n = 20) for CIPN in 41 breast and gyneco- logical cancer survivors with persistent moderate to severe CIPN. HRQOL endpoints were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The Treatment Expectancy Scale (TES) was ad- ministered at baseline. We estimated mean changes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from baseline to weeks 8 and 12 and compared arms using constrained linear mixed models.
Results: At week 8, HADS anxiety scores decreased −1.61 (−2.75, −0.46) in the yoga arm and −0.32 (−1.38, 0.75) points in the wait-list control arm (p = 0.099). At week 12, HADS anxiety scores decreased −1.42 (−2.57, −0.28) in yoga compared to an increase of 0.46 (−0.60, 1.53) in wait-list control (p = 0.017). There were no significant differences in HADS depression, BFI, or ISI scores between yoga and wait- list control. Baseline TES was significantly higher in yoga than in wait-list control (14.9 vs. 12.7, p = 0.019). TES was not associated with HADS anxiety reduction and HADS anxiety reduction was not associated with CIPN pain reduction.
Conclusions: Yoga may reduce anxiety in patients with CIPN. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Articles and Blog Posts about Oncology Yoga Research
Additional Research References
- Yoga for Bone Health in a Leukemia Patient – Prinster, 2022. Read.
- “The effects of aerobic exercise in patients with cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” June 9, 2025. (Tong Wang, Jiaxin Deng, Weicheng Li, Qiubo Zhang, Haoming Yan, Yongfeng Liu) Read.
- Neuromuscular training decreased the onset of CIPN by 50% to 70%, depending on the neurotoxic agent used. The prevention of neurological deficits enhances patient quality of life and may also impact clinical outcomes and overall survival by improving tolerability and adherence to oncological treatment. Read research in JAMA Internal Medicine.
- Download the ‘‘Importance of Research Literacy” as published in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy.
- Guidelines: Move More and Sit Less for Cancer Prevention and Survival
- Review the latest worldwide cancer data.
- Staying Active During Treatment — New Research.
- Exercise reduces the impact of ‘chemo brain’ or cognitive impairment.
- Gentle yoga is not enough. Active yoga (and exercise) is necessary for cancer survivors and patients. ‘Mice who spent their free time on a running wheel were better able to shrink tumors (a 50% reduction in tumor size) compared to their less active counterparts. Researchers found that the surge of adrenaline that comes with a high-intensity workout helped to move cancer-killing immune (NK) cells toward lung, liver, or skin tumors implanted into the mice. The study appears Feb. 16, 2016 in Cell Metabolism.’ Read more here.
- ‘Exercise during menopause could reduce hot flashes.’ Conducted by ‘Women’s Bio-behavioral Health Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh. Read more here.
- ‘Yoga Shown to Boost Brain Power in Older Adults’ (from 2014 but still a good one). By University of Illinois. Read more here.
- ‘Meditation eases pain, anxiety and fatigue during breast cancer biopsy’ by Duke Cancer Institute. Read more here.