Yoga for Psychological Distress in Gynecologic, Gastrointestinal, or Thoracic Cancer

Gynecologic cancers are malignancies of the female reproductive tract that affect over 70,000 women per year. Treatments for gynecologic cancer often result in numerous physical and emotional side effects that affect long-term adjustment, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sexual dysfunction, difficulties with fertility, and surgically-induced menopause. Even when initial treatments are successful, gynecologic cancers have a high recurrence rate that can reach nearly 80% among those with ovarian cancer. Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) is described as one of the largest unmet psychological needs among gynecologic cancer patients and is associated with psychological distress, increased health care utilization, and functional impairment. Few studies have examined interventions designed to manage symptoms of FCR, which leaves a significant gap in the literature regarding treatment of this prominent psychosocial problem. Cancer patients report growing use of integrative medicine therapies (e.g., yoga, acupuncture, massage) to manage unmet physical and emotional needs related to their disease and treatment. The current study will take advantage of this trend in supportive oncology to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel intervention program created specially to address FCR among women with gynecologic cancer. Patients will be recruited from the UF Health/Shands Hospital Gynecology Oncology Clinic and Medical Oncology clinic and invited to participate in a 10-week, manualized, small group yoga course. Psychoeducation modules, meditation training, and gentle yoga poses will be integrated into a comprehensive program focused on managing the psychosocial concerns of newly diagnosed gynecologic cancer patients. Findings from this research will contribute to the existing literature on FCR and knowledge regarding the use of integrative medicine techniques for addressing unmet psychological needs among gynecologic cancer patients. If the intervention is deemed feasible and acceptable, future research may explore ways in which this manualized yoga program compares to other psychosocial treatments for managing FCR and other forms of emotional distress in women with cancer.

Inclusion criteria

• Presence of newly diagnosed
• pathology-confirmed
• (a) gynecologic cancer (e.g., cancer of the ovaries, cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes), any stage, or
• (b) borderline ovarian tumor, Stage II-III
• Undergoing (or have recently undergone) surgery and/or active cancer treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation, a combination of these treatments and/or another form of cancer treatment)
• Able to read and write in English

Exclusion criteria

• History of gynecologic cancer or other cancer diagnosis (excluding basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin)
• Current, severe, uncontrolled psychopathology (e.g., symptomatic Bipolar Disorder with a manic or depressive episode in the last six months, psychotic symptoms or disorder, or documented personality disorder)
• History of dementia or other neurocognitive disorder that may interfere with participants' ability to adhere to study procedures
• Poor performance status as determined by a Karnofsky Status Score < 60,
• For those with any childbearing potential (i.e., 18 - 62 years of age, have intact reproductive organs, and/or have not yet started chemotherapy or radiation therapy): self-reported current pregnancy, possible pregnancy, or efforts to become pregnant
• History of regular or immersive yoga practice in the last five years defined as attending at least once weekly yoga classes for at least 6 consecutive months at any point in the prior 5 years