Cancer (General)

In general, cancer involves changes in the cells’ genetic material which cause the cells to multiply without the normal physiological restrictions. The cancer may spread, or metastasize to other parts of the body. According to the Cochrane Database, there is no good evidence that yoga is of benefit for cancer patients in general, although there is good evidence that yoga is beneficial in breast cancer. Relying on yoga instead of standard medical practices doubles the mortality rate, although using yoga in addition to established medical treatment has no documented adverse effect. However, anecdotally, many cancer sufferers report on the personal benefits of yoga, whether treated surgically, with radiation, or chemotherapeutically. A recent eloquent example is Dr. Timothy McCall’s “Saving my Neck,” Whole World Publishing, Burlington, VT; 2019. Safety of yoga poses in cancer patients depends upon tumor type and location as well as the side effects and limitations imposed by treatment.