It is intuitive that people undergoing cancer treatment would be less mentally fit than those who are sound of body. They experience more depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, anger, pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, and withdrawal than the rest of society, as a general rule. What is not intuitive, though, is how to help cancer patients not only through one of the hardest things their body has to face, but also one of the hardest things they will face mentally. Thailand cancer centers are now prescribing a new therapy which doesn't come in pill form, but has far fewer side effects and interactions. Yoga has been making a significant difference in the lives of women undergoing breast cancer treatment in Thailand.
The impetus for these yoga programs for breast cancer patients came from randomized trials undertaken at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, in the US. The trials examined a group of women undergoing breast cancer treatment - half underwent restorative yoga classes, the other half were on a waitlist (the control group). The classes were 75 minutes in length, and the program lasted for ten weeks. Patients of any health level are usually able to participate in restorative yoga classes. 34% of the participants were still undergoing chemo or other cancer therapy, the other half had completed treatment but were still having regular cancer checkups.
The study found a 50% reduction in depression rates among the women, with an associated increase in feelings of positivity, calm and peacefulness. They also experienced a significant improvement in their overall fatigue levels, one of the symptoms that Thailand cancer center patients report is the most debilitating. The women who began the program with lower general well being and more negative emotions gained the most benefit from it.
To oncologists at international hospitals in Bangkok, the link between a reduction in stress and a reduction in mental symptoms associated with cancer makes sense. Stress causes the body to release hormones such as epinephrine and cortisol - these increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar levels. Some studies have shown that ongoing stress is a factor in the risk of developing cancer. Therefore the reverse, that lower stress levels may help alleviate cancer, is a natural proposition to follow. The use of yoga in hospitals in Bangkok should follow. The country is a natural testing ground for these exciting preliminary results, with its predominantly Buddhist population, and high exposure to Eastern therapies.
Bruce Compas has a PhD, and is currently studying the psychological effects of cancer. He aggress with Thailand cancer center physicians, that stress is a huge factor for patients. "I got interested in cancer about 20 years ago when I realized that if you wanted to study stress, cancer is the area to study. It didn't take long to understand just how difficult this is for people", Compas says. His colleague, Dr Barabar Murphy, is an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University's Peabody College, and agrees with Compas regarding cancer survivors and cancer treatment - "If we are to treat patients in a holistic way, we must deal with the psyche".
Author Resource:-
Bangkok Hospital is an international hospital in bangkok that has 36 years of advanced medical technology and expertise,complemented with Thai hospitality and compassionate care.Includes the world-renowned Bangkok heart center thailand and specializing in oncology, neurology and orthopedics.
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