Qigong Improves Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors

by | Nov 19, 2013 | 2014, Cancer, Prostate Cancer

Written by Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS. Qigong (a practice of slow, flowing movements with deep breathing and meditation) decreased fatigue by 14.7%, decreased depression by 11.3%, and decreased anxiety by 15.9% compared to no change in group that solely did stretching. 

Prostate cancer accounts for 25% of newly diagnosed cancers in American men and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men (1), with an average age at diagnosis of 67 years (2). The National Cancer Institute estimates there will be 241,740 new cases and 28,170 deaths from prostate cancer in 2012 (3), with healthcare costs averaging $42,570 per patient (4).

Severe fatigue is one of the most common cancer-related symptoms reported by cancer survivors, affecting more than half (53%) of all survivors (5). The fatigue can persist for months or years following treatment and greatly diminish survivors’ quality of life by limiting their ability to perform daily living activities and generating significant distress (6,7). Now a new study (8) suggests that Qigong may help improve quality of life in prostate cancer survivors.  Qigong consists of slow, flowing movements, coordinated with deep breathing and a meditative focus to balance the flow of “Qi” or life energy for overall well-being (9).

The study included 29 prostate cancer survivors with an average age of 72 and symptoms of severe fatigue as measured by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (10) and exercising less than 2 ½ hours per week due to their fatigue.  The men were assigned to do 60 minutes of either Qigong (16 patients) or upper and lower body stretches (13 patients) in a group setting 2 times per week for 12 weeks.  The patients filled out a questionnaire called the BSI-18 which is used help measure psychological distress and psychiatric disorders in medical and community populations (11).

By the end of 12 weeks, those in the Qigong group reported:

  • 14.7% decrease in fatigue (5-point drop in the BSI-18) compared to no change in the stretching group (0-point change, p = 0.02)
  • 11.3% decrease in depression (6.5-poing decrease in BSI-18) compared to no change in the stretching group (0-point decrease, p = 0.09)
  • 15.9% decrease in anxiety (7.5-point decrease in BSI-18) compared to no change in the stretching group (0-point decrease, p = 0.003)
  • 13.4% decrease in the Global Severity Index (7-point decrease in BSI-18) compared to no change in the stretching group (0-point decrease, p = 0.002)

For the researchers, “This 12-week Qigong intervention was feasible and potentially efficacious in improving senior prostate cancer survivors’ levels of fatigue and distress levels.”  They added that “larger definitive randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these benefits in older prostate cancer survivors and in racially and ethnically diverse populations”, and concluded that “Qigong may be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for the management of senior prostate cancer survivors’ fatigue and distress.”

Source: Campo, Rebecca A., et al. “Levels of fatigue and distress in senior prostate cancer survivors enrolled in a 12-week randomized controlled trial of Qigong.” Journal of Cancer Survivorship 8.1 (2014): 60-69.

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG. Part of Springer Nature.

Posted November 19, 2013.

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him at PitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com 

References:

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  3. “Prostate Cancer” from the National Cancer Institute Website.
  4. “Long-Term Financial Costs Associated With Prostate Cancer Treatment” posted on Medical News Today December 24, 2006.
  5. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Cancer-Related Fatigue. Version 1.2013. Fort Washington: National Comprehensive Cancer Network; 2012.
  6. Curt GA, Breitbart W, Cella D, Groopman JE, Horning SJ, Itri LM, et al. Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: new findings from the Fatigue Coalition. Oncologist. 2000;5(5):353–60.
  7. Hofman M, Ryan JL, Figueroa-Moseley CD, Jean-Pierre P, Morrow GR. Cancer-related fatigue: the scale of the problem. Oncologist. 2007;12 Suppl 1:4–10. doi:10.1634/theoncologist.12-S1-4.
  8. Campo RA.  Levels of fatigue and distress in senior prostate cancer survivors enrolled in a 12-week randomized controlled trial of Qigong.  Jou Cancer Surv 2013.  DOI 10.1007/s11764-013-0315-5.
  9. Rogers CE, Larkey LK, Keller C. A review of clinical trials of tai chi and Qigong in older adults. West J Nurs Res. 2009;31(2):245–79 doi:10.1177/0193945908327529.
  10. “What is CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events)?” posted on the National Cancer Institute Website.
  11. “Brief Symptom Inventory 18” posted on the Pearson Assessment Website.