Effects of Meditative Movement (Qigong/Tai Chi Easy) on Fatigued Breast Cancer Survivors

Patients with breast cancer often report fatigue and other associated symptoms that

persist for months, even years, after treatment ends. In a recent pilot study of

Qigong/Tai Chi Easy (QG/TCE, a low-intensity form of Meditative Movement), fatigued

breast cancer survivors experienced greater improvements in fatigue (medium effect size,

.56); compared to a "sham" Qigong control intervention (also low-intensity activity).

Trends for improvement compared to control were found for sleep quality and depression.

Recruitment for the single-site implementation was steady, and feasible. To build upon

the promise of this pilot study, and to further test intervention components that may

elucidate what aspects of the intervention have the most impact, a three-group,

randomized trial will be undertaken to test effects of an 8-week QG/TCE intervention on

fatigue and other symptoms at the end of 8 weeks, and 24 weeks post-intervention. 246

(attrition to 210) women who are 6 months to 10 years past treatment for Stage 0- III

breast cancer, aged 45-75, and post-menopausal, will be randomized into one of three

study arms. Two comparison groups will be used, an educational support (ES) group control

and an active sham Qigong (SQG) group with movements that are similar to and with the

same level of physical activity intensity as QG/TCE, but without the focus on the breath

and meditative state. These treatments allow for separation of effects associated with

gentle exercise alone (controlled in SQG) and education/social support alone without any

exercise (controlled in ES) relative to the mind-body practice of QG/TCE, to distinguish

unique effects of the meditative and breath foci. The study will be implemented in two

sites in a large, metropolitan area, including one low-income hospital (and catchment

neighborhood) with larger numbers of Latina survivors where our research team has

extensive community connections and cultural experience implementing exercise and

meditative movement programs. Psychometrics and biomarkers related to symptoms before and

after the interventions will be examined to further our understanding of the mechanisms

associated with effects of QG/TCE, as distinct from ES and SQG.