Our lead coach, Dr Karina, has recently completed the first comprehensive HRV biofeedback study involving women with lived experience of breast cancer. It was a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) with a 6 months follow-up.
Summary
Motivation
Many chronic side effects of breast cancer, including anxiety, fatigue, insomnia and hot flushes, are linked to a common mechanism—dysregulated nervous system and overactive stress response.
Research Objective
To explore whether improving these mechanisms (non-invasively) through biofeedback could address the holistic physical and psychological wellbeing needs of women with lived experience of breast cancer.
Methods
This RCT involved 60 women with history of breast cancer (aged 36–61), between 6 months and 5 years post active treatment. The intervention was compared against two control groups. Data comprised quantitative measures (wellbeing questionnaires, pulse data) and in-depth interviews exploring the participants’ lived experiences
Data were collected pre-training, post-training, and at 6-month follow-up.
Results
After four weeks of HRV biofeedback, participants showed significant improvements in baseline HRV, sleep, vasomotor symptoms (night sweats/hot flushes), fatigue, cognitive function, anxiety, and stress‑related symptoms. Most of these improvements were maintained at the six‑month follow‑up.
Full results published in Current Oncology: https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/32/3/150
Overall conclusion
HRV biofeedback is a safe and user‑friendly self‑management tool that can help address a range of ongoing symptoms following breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Details of the main findings
Improved sleep
My findings showed that after 4 weeks of HRV biofeedback training, participants reported significantly better sleep – waking up less or sleeping through the night, and taking considerably less time to fall asleep. This lasted for up to 6 months, as compared to two control groups.
Reduced night sweats & hot flushes
Those who completed the 4-week HRV biofeedback intervention were also statistically more likely to report cessation of night sweats compared to the two control groups.
Similarly, although all participants including those in the two control groups demonstrated a trend towards reduction in hot flushes over time, those who underwent the intervention noticed relatively fewer daytime hot flushes (green trend line).
Psychological Wellbeing & Participant Feedback
During the intervention participants learned new coping skills which they continued using up to the 6 months follow-up. Using their breathing to manage stress and anxiety became an automatic habit – “It just kind of kicks in”. They felt “empowered” and “in control”, and together with improvements in wellbeing, this triggered a positive shift for many, making them feel more “hopeful” about the future.
…it’s such a shock! How does your body know, or your brain kind of learn to override the anxiety response like that? Amazing!
Dina
4 years post breast cancer diagnosis
… able to cope with things, able to cope with the unexpected, to remain calm.
Maya
2 years post breast cancer diagnosis
I’m still having to do all the same things, but I’m feeling less overwhelmed by having to do all the same things.
Julia
2 years post breast cancer diagnosis
It’s made me see that I can control how relaxed or calm I feel… I’ve just felt like I’ve been able to just properly enjoy doing stuff.
Christine
Over 1 years post breast cancer diagnosis
In the interviews, participants expressed their deepest gratitude and genuine surprise at the effectiveness of HRV biofeedback, both in improving symptoms and in their ‘new’ capacity to manage stress.
They described feeling overall “less overwhelmed”, “perkier”, more “energised”, and more able to think “clearly”. They found strong self‑care value in their daily HRV biofeedback practice, describing it as valuable time set aside for themselves.
I wish in some ways I’ve known about it much earlier, because I think it would have changed my experience of the intense early phases of treatment. I think it would have been massively helpful, but equally I’m very grateful to have had it now, because it feels like the beginning of the next chapter for me.
Charlene
Nearly 5 years post breast cancer diagnosis
*Participant names have been changed to ensure anonymity.
Having experienced clear benefits, all participants recommended HRV biofeedback for sleep difficulties, hot flushes and night sweats, low mood management, and especially for stress-management.
