Breast cancer rehabilitation with yoga

We've written about it many times and it has been scientifically proven several times: exercise helps breast cancer patients better cope with the side effects of treatments such as chemo and hormone therapy. It speeds recovery, improves quality of life and reduces the risk of relapse. However, that's easier said than done. "From the beginning of the treatment process, we encourage our breast cancer patients to be active, exercise and engage in rehabilitation," says Dr. Sonia Vanderlinden, gynecologist and coordinator of the breast clinic at Europe Hospitals Brussels. "Yet I noticed that not every cancer patient finds the courage to get on a fitness machine. Side effects such as fatigue, joint pains, mood reduction and insomnia are obstacles to active rehabilitation." Those who did not participate in sports before their cancer diagnosis are not inclined to start doing so when they are sick. For them, Dr. Vanderlinden sought an alternative.

"We encourage our breast cancer patients from the beginning of the treatment process to be active, exercise and engage in rehabilitation."

Yogini Goedele

Sonia Vanderlinden drew inspiration from her daughter's master's thesis and discovered yoga as a means of rehabilitation. "Yoga is a low-threshold way of exercise. The beneficial effects in cancer have been sufficiently proven in large studies." Overview studies show that cancer patients who practice yoga experience less fatigue, joint pain, stress and anxiety. Dr. Vanderlinden took the bull by the horns. Together with her team and in particular oncocoach and psychologist Bram Mombers-Schepers, she invited Goedele Leyssen, a yogini at heart and author of books on yoga, to an event the breast clinic organized for breast cancer patients.

"Our patients could be introduced to yoga, and those who were interested in taking yoga classes at our hospital could make that known." Demand was high, and Vanderlinden set out to find the appropriate yoga teacher who could provide customized sessions for cancer patients. The breast clinic team found a trilingual teacher who alternates between both campuses of Europe Hospitals. "He customizes the exercises individually and our patients are very enthusiastic," Vanderlinden says.

Yoga customized

To maintain a great project like this, resources are needed. For example, to buy enough mats and pay the teacher. Once again, Sonia Vanderlinden and her enthusiastic staff did not stop at nothing and participated in Pink Ribbon's The Pink Walk . "With our staff we regularly organize a challenge and The Pink Walk was part of that in 2024. Once again, the enthusiasm was great and we had several teams taking steps for the most part," he says. We collected a nice amount for the non-profit organization Pink Ribbon, and now the non-profit organization gives us funds for our yoga sessions.

Supporting psychosocial projects is one of Pink Ribbon's missions. Europe Hospitals' yoga project for cancer patients completely fulfills it.