Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2/2010

01-06-2010

Longitudinal study of recreational physical activity in breast cancer survivors

Authors: Alyson J. Littman, Mei-Tzu Tang, Mary Anne Rossing

Published in: Journal of Cancer Survivorship | Issue 2/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Introduction

Few longitudinal studies have examined physical activity (PA) levels in breast cancer survivors and how those levels change following cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 315 female residents of Washington State, aged 21–74 years, diagnosed with a first primary invasive breast cancer between 2002 and 2004, and identified by a population-based cancer registry. Recreational PA was assessed for the 2-year period before diagnosis and at three intervals after diagnosis (1–12, 13–18, and 19–30 months). We calculated average metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours/wk of total, low-, moderate-, and vigorous-intensity PA.

Results

Mean PA levels decreased by 50% in the 12 months after diagnosis relative to before diagnosis (from 18.8 to 9.2 MET-hours/wk). At 19–30 months post-diagnosis, overall PA levels had increased from the low levels reported in the first year after diagnosis, but remained approximately 3 MET-hours/wk lower than before diagnosis. Reductions were limited to moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities. Declines in PA differed according to certain characteristics of the study population, with the greatest reductions observed in women <40 years at diagnosis and with a pre-diagnosis body mass index <25 kg/m2; these women were also more likely to report the greatest activity before diagnosis.

Conclusions

These results, if replicated in other studies, suggest that effective intervention strategies to increase PA in breast cancer survivors may differ according to patient characteristics.

Implications for cancer survivors

Younger, normal weight, and relatively active women may benefit most from interventions to minimize the decline in PA following diagnosis, while women who are older, overweight, and relatively inactive at diagnosis may benefit from interventions to increase long-term PA.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, et al. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:1423–34.CrossRefPubMed Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, et al. Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:1423–34.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Montazeri A. Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: a bibliographic review of the literature from 1974 to 2007. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2008;27:32.CrossRefPubMed Montazeri A. Health-related quality of life in breast cancer patients: a bibliographic review of the literature from 1974 to 2007. J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2008;27:32.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, et al. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: 5 year observational cohort study. BMJ. 2005;330:702.CrossRefPubMed Burgess C, Cornelius V, Love S, et al. Depression and anxiety in women with early breast cancer: 5 year observational cohort study. BMJ. 2005;330:702.CrossRefPubMed
4.
go back to reference Ganz PA, Desmond KA, Leedham B, et al. Quality of life in long-term, disease-free survivors of breast cancer: a follow-up study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002;94:39–49.PubMed Ganz PA, Desmond KA, Leedham B, et al. Quality of life in long-term, disease-free survivors of breast cancer: a follow-up study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002;94:39–49.PubMed
5.
go back to reference Emery CF, Yang HC, Frierson GM, et al. Determinants of physical activity among women treated for breast cancer in a 5-year longitudinal follow-up investigation. Psychooncology. 2009;18:377–86.CrossRefPubMed Emery CF, Yang HC, Frierson GM, et al. Determinants of physical activity among women treated for breast cancer in a 5-year longitudinal follow-up investigation. Psychooncology. 2009;18:377–86.CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Irwin ML, McTiernan A, Bernstein L, et al. Physical activity levels among breast cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36:1484–91.PubMed Irwin ML, McTiernan A, Bernstein L, et al. Physical activity levels among breast cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;36:1484–91.PubMed
7.
go back to reference Andrykowski MA, Beacham AO, Jacobsen PB. Prospective, longitudinal study of leisure-time exercise in women with early-stage breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16:430–8.CrossRefPubMed Andrykowski MA, Beacham AO, Jacobsen PB. Prospective, longitudinal study of leisure-time exercise in women with early-stage breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2007;16:430–8.CrossRefPubMed
8.
go back to reference Ligibel JA, Partridge A, Giobbie-Hurder A, et al. Physical activity behaviors in women with newly diagnosed ductal carcinoma-in-situ. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009;16:106–12.CrossRefPubMed Ligibel JA, Partridge A, Giobbie-Hurder A, et al. Physical activity behaviors in women with newly diagnosed ductal carcinoma-in-situ. Ann Surg Oncol. 2009;16:106–12.CrossRefPubMed
9.
go back to reference Kriska AM, Caspersen CJ. Introduction to a collection of physical activity questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:5–9. Kriska AM, Caspersen CJ. Introduction to a collection of physical activity questionnaire. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:5–9.
10.
go back to reference Kriska AM, Knowler WC, LaPorte RE, et al. Development of questionnaire to examine relationship of physical activity and diabetes in Pima Indians. Diabetes Care. 1990;13:401–11.CrossRefPubMed Kriska AM, Knowler WC, LaPorte RE, et al. Development of questionnaire to examine relationship of physical activity and diabetes in Pima Indians. Diabetes Care. 1990;13:401–11.CrossRefPubMed
11.
go back to reference Borg GAV. Borg’s perceived exertion and pain scales. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 1998. Borg GAV. Borg’s perceived exertion and pain scales. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 1998.
12.
go back to reference Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, et al. Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32:S498–504.CrossRefPubMed Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Whitt MC, et al. Compendium of physical activities: an update of activity codes and MET intensities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000;32:S498–504.CrossRefPubMed
13.
go back to reference Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, et al. Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:71–80.CrossRefPubMed Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, et al. Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;25:71–80.CrossRefPubMed
14.
go back to reference Barnett TA, Gauvin L, Craig CL, et al. Distinct trajectories of leisure time physical activity and predictors of trajectory class membership: a 22 year cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2008;5:57.CrossRefPubMed Barnett TA, Gauvin L, Craig CL, et al. Distinct trajectories of leisure time physical activity and predictors of trajectory class membership: a 22 year cohort study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2008;5:57.CrossRefPubMed
15.
go back to reference Hays RD, Woolley JM. The concept of clinically meaningful difference in health-related quality-of-life research. How meaningful is it? Pharmacoeconomics. 2000;18:419–23.CrossRefPubMed Hays RD, Woolley JM. The concept of clinically meaningful difference in health-related quality-of-life research. How meaningful is it? Pharmacoeconomics. 2000;18:419–23.CrossRefPubMed
16.
go back to reference Norman GR, Sloan JA, Wyrwich KW. Interpretation of changes in health-related quality of life: the remarkable universality of half a standard deviation. Med Care. 2003;41:582–92.CrossRefPubMed Norman GR, Sloan JA, Wyrwich KW. Interpretation of changes in health-related quality of life: the remarkable universality of half a standard deviation. Med Care. 2003;41:582–92.CrossRefPubMed
17.
go back to reference Zeger SL, Liang KY, Albert PS. Models for longitudinal data: a generalized estimating equation approach. Biometrics. 1988;44:1049–60.CrossRefPubMed Zeger SL, Liang KY, Albert PS. Models for longitudinal data: a generalized estimating equation approach. Biometrics. 1988;44:1049–60.CrossRefPubMed
18.
go back to reference Zeger SL, Liang KY. Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986;42:121–30.CrossRefPubMed Zeger SL, Liang KY. Longitudinal data analysis for discrete and continuous outcomes. Biometrics. 1986;42:121–30.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference Huber PJ. The behavior of maximum likelihood estimates under non-standard conditions. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1967. pp. 221–33. Huber PJ. The behavior of maximum likelihood estimates under non-standard conditions. In: Proceedings of the Fifth Berkeley Symposium on Mathematical Statistics and Probability. Berkeley: University of California Press; 1967. pp. 221–33.
20.
go back to reference White H. Maximum likelihood estimation of misspecified models. Econometrica. 1982;50:1–25.CrossRef White H. Maximum likelihood estimation of misspecified models. Econometrica. 1982;50:1–25.CrossRef
21.
go back to reference Irwin ML, Crumley D, McTiernan A, et al. Physical activity levels before and after a diagnosis of breast carcinoma: the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) study. Cancer. 2003;97:1746–57.CrossRefPubMed Irwin ML, Crumley D, McTiernan A, et al. Physical activity levels before and after a diagnosis of breast carcinoma: the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) study. Cancer. 2003;97:1746–57.CrossRefPubMed
22.
go back to reference Demark-Wahnefried W, Aziz NM, Rowland JH, et al. Riding the crest of the teachable moment: promoting long-term health after the diagnosis of cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:5814–30.CrossRefPubMed Demark-Wahnefried W, Aziz NM, Rowland JH, et al. Riding the crest of the teachable moment: promoting long-term health after the diagnosis of cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:5814–30.CrossRefPubMed
23.
go back to reference Humpel N, Magee C, Jones SC. The impact of a cancer diagnosis on the health behaviors of cancer survivors and their family and friends. Support Care Cancer. 2007;15:621–30.CrossRefPubMed Humpel N, Magee C, Jones SC. The impact of a cancer diagnosis on the health behaviors of cancer survivors and their family and friends. Support Care Cancer. 2007;15:621–30.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Bellizzi KM, Rowland JH, Jeffery DD, et al. Health behaviors of cancer survivors: examining opportunities for cancer control intervention. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:8884–93.CrossRefPubMed Bellizzi KM, Rowland JH, Jeffery DD, et al. Health behaviors of cancer survivors: examining opportunities for cancer control intervention. J Clin Oncol. 2005;23:8884–93.CrossRefPubMed
25.
go back to reference Coups EJ, Ostroff JS. A population-based estimate of the prevalence of behavioral risk factors among adult cancer survivors and noncancer controls. Prev Med. 2005;40:702–11.CrossRefPubMed Coups EJ, Ostroff JS. A population-based estimate of the prevalence of behavioral risk factors among adult cancer survivors and noncancer controls. Prev Med. 2005;40:702–11.CrossRefPubMed
26.
go back to reference Grimmett C, Wardle J, Steptoe A. Health behaviours in older cancer survivors in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Eur J Cancer. 2009;45:2180–6. Grimmett C, Wardle J, Steptoe A. Health behaviours in older cancer survivors in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Eur J Cancer. 2009;45:2180–6.
27.
go back to reference Eakin EG, Youlden DR, Baade PD, et al. Health behaviors of cancer survivors: data from an Australian population-based survey. Cancer Causes Control. 2007;18:881–94.CrossRefPubMed Eakin EG, Youlden DR, Baade PD, et al. Health behaviors of cancer survivors: data from an Australian population-based survey. Cancer Causes Control. 2007;18:881–94.CrossRefPubMed
28.
go back to reference Courneya KS, Katzmarzyk PT, Bacon E. Physical activity and obesity in Canadian cancer survivors: population-based estimates from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Cancer. 2008;112:2475–82.CrossRefPubMed Courneya KS, Katzmarzyk PT, Bacon E. Physical activity and obesity in Canadian cancer survivors: population-based estimates from the 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey. Cancer. 2008;112:2475–82.CrossRefPubMed
29.
go back to reference Bowles HR, FitzGerald SJ, Morrow Jr JR, et al. Construct validity of self-reported historical physical activity. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160:279–86.CrossRefPubMed Bowles HR, FitzGerald SJ, Morrow Jr JR, et al. Construct validity of self-reported historical physical activity. Am J Epidemiol. 2004;160:279–86.CrossRefPubMed
30.
go back to reference Slattery ML, Jacobs Jr DR. Assessment of ability to recall physical activity of several years ago. Ann Epidemiol. 1995;5:292–6.CrossRefPubMed Slattery ML, Jacobs Jr DR. Assessment of ability to recall physical activity of several years ago. Ann Epidemiol. 1995;5:292–6.CrossRefPubMed
31.
go back to reference 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report; 2008. 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report; 2008.
Metadata
Title
Longitudinal study of recreational physical activity in breast cancer survivors
Authors
Alyson J. Littman
Mei-Tzu Tang
Mary Anne Rossing
Publication date
01-06-2010
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Cancer Survivorship / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 1932-2259
Electronic ISSN: 1932-2267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-009-0113-2

Other articles of this Issue 2/2010

Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2/2010 Go to the issue
Webinar | 19-02-2024 | 17:30 (CET)

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on antibody–drug conjugates in cancer

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) are novel agents that have shown promise across multiple tumor types. Explore the current landscape of ADCs in breast and lung cancer with our experts, and gain insights into the mechanism of action, key clinical trials data, existing challenges, and future directions.

Dr. Véronique Diéras
Prof. Fabrice Barlesi
Developed by: Springer Medicine