Yoga: an effective approach to improving MPN symptoms

Ruben Mesa, MD, FACP, from the Mayo Cancer Clinic Center, Rochester, MN, talks to us about non-pharmacological therapies for improving the symptoms of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), namely fatigue, which is the most common unresolved symptom in MPN patients who are treated with pharmacological therapy. He suggests physical activity, nutrition, stress reduction and meditation as non-pharmacological therapies and cites a study on the impact of yoga in improving symptoms of MPN, which has received positive feedback and results from patients (DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2017.35.15_suppl.e21704). As for the future, the next steps in evaluating the effectiveness of yoga in improving MPN symptoms would be to compare yoga-conducting patients with a control group, a session which is currently in progress. This interview was filmed at the American Society of Oncology (ASCO) 2017 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.