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Summary
A new study led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. The study, presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, included 410 adult cancer survivors who were randomly assigned to either standard survivorship care or standard care plus the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program. The YOCAS program consisted of two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions per week, including Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises, and mindfulness training. The study found moderate-to-large reductions in overall mood disturbance, small-to-medium reductions in anxiety, and medium-to-large reductions in fatigue among the yoga group. The improvements in mood and fatigue were linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality.
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This guidance has been heard before. The recommendation enters another phase.
The study’s findings, while promising, are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication. The sample was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women, breast cancer patients, Caucasian, and having some college or higher education. The study excluded patients with metastatic cancer and had a limited duration of only four weeks. More research is needed to determine long-term benefits. If confirmed, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors.
The advice sounds familiar.
It’s not the first time we’ve heard about the benefits of yoga for cancer survivors, and it won’t be the last.
Cancer survivors may see surprising benefits from one specific exercise, study says.
Author: Evan Null
