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Supportive Care in Cancer

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01-11-2016 | Original Article

Benefits of 24 versus 12 weeks of exercise and wellness programming for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer

Authors: Heather J. Leach, Jessica M. Danyluk, Kathryn C. Nishimura, S. Nicole Culos-Reed

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 11/2016

Abstract

Purpose

Community exercise programs can help maintain or improve health in cancer survivors. However, the most effective and feasible duration of a community exercise program for breast cancer survivors who are undergoing treatment is not known. This pre-post-design study evaluated the effects of the “Breast cancer patients Engaging in Activity while Undergoing Treatment” (BEAUTY) program on physical and psychosocial outcomes after 12 and 24 weeks.

Methods

BEAUTY is an ongoing community exercise and wellness program for breast cancer patients who are undergoing, or within 3 months of completing chemotherapy and radiation. Participants completed assessments at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks to measure body composition, hand-grip dynamometry, aerobic fitness, and flexibility. Self-report questionnaires assessed fatigue (FACIT-fatigue), cognitive function (FACT-cog), quality of life (QOL) (FACT-B), and depressive symptoms (CES-D). Main analyses were repeated measures general linear model for all outcomes.

Results

Assessments at all three time points were completed by N = 63 participants. At 24 weeks, waist to hip ratio (p = .019), duration of the submaximal treadmill test (p = .013), and estimated VO_2max (p = .018) improved compared to baseline. Fatigue improved at 24 compared to 12 weeks (p = .002). FACT-B scores improved at 24 weeks when compared to both baseline (p = .002) and 12 weeks (p = .001). Depressive symptoms improved compared to baseline (p = .05) and 12 weeks (p = .009).

Conclusions

Additional benefits were seen after 24 versus 12 weeks, suggesting that a longer duration exercise program during, or shortly after completing treatments for breast cancer, may be necessary to see improvements in fitness and psychosocial outcomes. Findings can be applied to community exercise and rehabilitation programs for breast cancer survivors.

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Title: Benefits of 24 versus 12 weeks of exercise and wellness programming for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer
Authors: Heather J. Leach
Jessica M. Danyluk
Kathryn C. Nishimura
S. Nicole Culos-Reed
Publication date: 01-11-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 11/2016
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3302-3

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