Current Projects

Project Title A Yoga and Wellness Program for Breast Cancer Survivors with Persistent Fatigue

Researcher Julienne Bower, Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles

Study Summary The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of a series of relaxing yoga classes to a Wellness Seminar series on energy, mood, physical function, and the activity of the immune and endocrine systems in women who have survived breast cancer. Sixty (60) breast cancer survivors are needed for this study.

Who Can Participate? You can join the Yoga and Wellness Program for Survivors study if you match ALL of these MAIN categories:

•You were diagnosed with stage 0, I, or II breast cancer

•You have completed your primary breast cancer treatment at least 6 months ago. (primary treatment includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Continuing to take tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor will be allowed)

•There is no evidence of breast cancer recurrence or having another cancer

•You are post-menopausal

•You are a woman between the ages of 40 - 65 years

•You are not a regular (daily) smoker

•You are not a heavy drinker ( having more than two alcoholic beverages per day in a 7-day period)

•You are able to go to the UCLA Westwood Campus (and possibly a West Los Angeles yoga studio) to participate in study procedures

•You have no physical limitations that might interfere with ability to do yoga


The researcher may ask you additional questions to be sure this study is a right fit for you.

What Does Participation Involve? If you are interested in joining this study, you will be asked to come to the UCLA Westwood Campus for an initial screening that will last about one hour.

At this time, the researchers will assess your overall health and physical capabilities to be sure this study is a right fit for you.

If you take part, you will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to either participate in a 12-week series of yoga classes or a 12-week Wellness Seminar.

The yoga program is deeply restful and uses special poses to target fatigue and promote well-being. The yoga classes will be held twice weekly in a West Los Angeles yoga studio and each class will last 1 ½ hours.

The Wellness Seminar provides targeted information on fatigue and other key aspects to cancer survivorship, including expert lectures on nutrition, stress management, and sleep. The Wellness Seminar will be held once weekly at the UCLA campus and will last 2 hours.

After all assessments are completed, you will be offered the opportunity to access information and/or services provided in whichever program you did not experience as part of the research study. This is completely voluntary; no further study assessments will take place.

You will be asked to keep a diary during the study to assess changes in fatigue, mood, sleep, pain and other behavioral symptoms.

You will also have samples of blood and saliva collected at various times during the study.

When you sign up for the study, the researcher will contact you, and will provide a detailed explanation and schedule of all study procedures.

Where? The University of California Medical Center in Westwood, California

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