The Role of Yoga and Meditation in Improving Quality of Life for Cancer Patients
Yoga and meditation can improve quality of life for cancer patients when used alongside standard medical care, not as a cure.
Studies show yogic interventions, including specific āsanas, prāṇāyāma, and meditation, help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in patients. This improves their sense of well-being during treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, evidence does not support claims that yoga cures cancer. Such false promises are harmful, causing patients to delay effective treatment until their disease becomes advanced and incurable. The principle must be welfare of all, first doing no harm. Yoga is applicable at all stages: for primary prevention through lifestyle, secondary prevention via early diagnosis, and tertiary care to alleviate suffering in advanced disease. More robust, large-scale studies are needed to confirm benefits and identify the most effective techniques.
"Please do not give a false hope that your cancer will be cured."
"Yogic intervention helps in relieving the stress level of patients and thereby improves their sleep."
Filming location: Delhi, India
