Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. Since various side effects of radiation therapy can influence the patients’ quality of life, the present study tried to determine the effects of yoga on function domain of quality of life in women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer.

  Methods: This study was a randomized controlled clinical trial with pre- and post-intervention stages. Forty women with breast cancer who presented at radiotherapy and oncology departments of Omid and Milad Hospitals (Isfahan, Iran) were recruited. over a period of eight weeks, 75-minute yoga sessions were held. Data were collected through a demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast-specific module (EORTC QLQ-BR23). The questionnaires were completed through face-to-face interviews conducted by a radiation oncologist in 2012.

  Result: The designed yoga program resulted in statistically and clinically significant improvements in function dimensions of quality of life. The mean scores of the function dimensions were 54.04±14.90 before the intervention and 83.1±13.4 after the intervention. Before the intervention, the lowest and highest scores were observed in the case of role function and sexual function, respectively. Significant improvements in function dimensions were detected after the intervention (P<0.001).

  Conclusion: Yoga can improve the function dimensions of quality of life in patients with cancer. Treatment and supportive care centers can hence use yoga programs as an effective, convenient, and inexpensive method to enhance the quality of life of these patients.