Posted: 10/19/2015
Studies confirm less stress, pain, fatigue result
Every Wednesday evening after the last patient is seen at Parkland Health & Hospital System’s Comprehensive Breast Center, chairs and tables are pushed against the walls and the main waiting area is quickly converted into a yoga studio.
“It’s not fancy, but it works well,” said Jody Hayes, MD, a Parkland radiologist and Assistant Professor of Radiology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who spends her weekdays reading mammograms and consulting with patients who are either newly diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing treatment or receiving follow-up care as breast cancer survivors.
But on Wednesday evenings, Dr. Hayes sheds her lab coat and slips into yoga pants, joining her patients in a 45-minute class led by Betsy Porter, RN, a nurse practitioner who recently retired after a long career in Parkland’s Palliative Care department.
A certified yoga instructor, Porter has been practicing yoga for 20 years. “When I began working in the palliative care arena, I knew I needed a stress reliever that could help me mentally and emotionally relax. I took a yoga class and it’s the best thing I ever did for myself,” she said.
Now Porter dedicates her new-found free time as a retiree to helping Parkland breast cancer patients experience the physical and emotional benefits of yoga.
“Research has shown that yoga improves the overall quality of life for cancer patients,” Dr. Hayes said. “The benefits are both physical and psychosocial. They include decreased fatigue, lower stress levels, better sleep, improved posture and decreased pain. In addition, patients can form a strong support group for one another in this kind of setting.”
For Laura Cerda of Dallas, yoga class has already become a highlight of her week. The 42-year old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013 and has undergone a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation and breast reconstructive surgery.
“I had a lot of pain in my hand, and tightness in my muscles and skin due to the surgery. Since starting yoga just four weeks ago, I feel better. My hand movement has improved and my whole body feels better. I have more energy. I’ve started exercising at home and walking or riding a bicycle several times a week.”
Most importantly, Cerda says, she’s had a big change in attitude. “I feel more positive and happy. The teacher is very motivating. I’m always scared the cancer will come back, but since starting yoga, I feel much more healthy and relaxed. I’m making positive changes in my life.”
Porter has seen patients benefit in many ways from stretching, balance and strength training that are part of yoga, along with the meditation and breathing exercises.
“Most of the women have never been to a yoga class and never been on a mat before,” she said. “We provide the equipment and introduce them to basic yoga concepts. I tell them what yoga is and is not. It is not a religion or cult. It is a mental and physical discipline developed in India over 5,000 years ago that is an accepted form of complementary or integrative medicine.”
The word “yoga” is derived from “yoke,” meaning the union of mind, body and spirit.
“We’ve only held a few sessions so far,” Porter said, “but already patients are saying how much they look forward to the class. ‘It’s the only time I do something just for myself,’ one of them told me.”
Cerda invited two friends she made during chemo and radiation treatments to join her at the yoga class. “They are so happy with the class, too,” she said. “ It’s a special time just for us and the teacher always takes care of us and asks how we are doing. We get a lot of personal attention.”
The class is offered at no charge. Breast cancer patients can ask their Parkland provider for a referral to attend. Women in the group may have had lumpectomies, mastectomies or other surgical procedures. They may be undergoing chemotherapy or radiation and suffering with nausea, fatigue, swelling or other symptoms. Some are recovering from reconstructive breast surgery and experiencing tightness in arm and chest tissue. They range in age from their 20s to 70s, but most attending the evening class are older.
“Our younger patients have small children at home and find it difficult to come to a class in the evening,” said Dr. Hayes. “We’re hoping to find a location where we can offer an afternoon class for them eventually.”
The focus of the class is on breathing, gentle stretching, postural awareness and relaxation. Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women and breast cancer survivors are at risk for musculoskeletal impairments including decreased shoulder mobility, pectoral tightness and altered posture.
“Yoga can be so restorative,” Porter said. “It’s like plugging your phone into the outlet and recharging. Wherever our patients are in their cancer journey, yoga can give them a sense of compassionate self-awareness and bring them in tune with their bodies and their mind.”
“I just hope Parkland continues to offer yoga for patients because it really helps us a lot,” Cerda said.
Parkland provides screening mammograms, breast cancer education, and case management services to medically underserved women in Dallas County. Parkland’s mobile mammography unit visits its Community Oriented Primary Care health centers regularly. For more information on the mobile mammography unit screening schedule, visit www.parklandhospital.com/mobilemammography or call 214.266.3300. Learn more about Parkland’s Comprehensive Breast Center.