Iskenderun

Breast cancer is the most common cancer causing death among women worldwide, with a particularly high incidence in women aged 45-54. Chemotherapy, a common treatment for breast cancer, can lead to serious side effects including pain, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, impacting patients' quality of life. This research investigates how laughter yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapies affect anxiety, depression, quality of life, and spiritual well-being in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Women participating in the study will be divided into groups receiving either laughter yoga or mindfulness therapy during their chemotherapy sessions. Each therapy involves sessions lasting about 40-60 minutes, held twice a week for 8 weeks in small groups within chemotherapy rooms. Some sessions will be face-to-face coinciding with chemotherapy treatments, while others will be conducted online via smartphone at times convenient for participants. Assessments will be completed during specific sessions and again at 12 weeks. Participants will undergo evaluations including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to measure anxiety and depression levels. Researchers will monitor quality of life and spiritual well-being through questionnaires at multiple points during and after the therapy sessions. The study focuses on women aged 18 to 60 who have stage 1 or 2 breast cancer and are receiving chemotherapy at least monthly. Safety and adherence to therapy sessions will also be tracked throughout the study.