A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF BREATHING EXERCISES IN ALLEVIATING CANCER-RELATED FATIGUE DURING RADIATION TREATMENT

Abstract

Chronic radiation fatigue syndrome (CRF) is a debilitating illness that impacts the psychological, emotional, and physiological well-being of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Finding out if breathing exercises improve quality of life and reduce chronic respiratory distress (CRF) in radiation therapy patients at certain hospitals in the goal of this study effort. For this RCT, two groups of people were picked at random. One group participated in a breathing exercise program for six weeks, whereas the other group got standard care alone. Timed breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, and mindfulness-based breathing were all components of the breathing exercise program. Indicators of quality of life (QOL), adherence to exercise programs, physical and mental health, and CRF as measured by the FACIT-fatigue scale or the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) were considered secondary outcomes. In SPSS, we used descriptive and inferential statistics to compare the outcomes of the intervention group to those of the control group. When we compare the two groups' CRF decrease and quality of life, we anticipate that the intervention group will do better. If this non-pharmacological approach is successful, it might be included into cancer treatment plans as a cost-effective method to control nausea and vomiting, which is particularly important in regions with little resources. By contributing to the growing body of research on non-pharmacological therapies for cancer-associated fatigue, the findings may improve patient outcomes in similar areas.