Physical activity, long-term symptoms, and physical health-related quality of life among breast cancer survivors: a prospective analysis.
BACKGROUND
Many breast cancer survivors experience persistent physical symptoms of cancer and treatment that can decrease health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This prospective study investigated physical activity (PA), occurrence of physical symptoms, and HRQOL in a large, ethnically-diverse cohort of breast cancer survivors.


METHODS
Survivors (n = 545), on average 6 months post-diagnosis, were assessed in person or by mail at baseline (retrospective reports of pre-diagnosis PA), at 29 months post-diagnosis (post-diagnosis PA), and at 39 months post-diagnosis (pain, hormone symptoms, sexual interest/dysfunction, fatigue, physical subscales of HRQOL). Linear regression and analysis of covariance assessed the relationships between pre- and post-diagnosis PA and PA change after cancer with symptoms and HRQOL.


RESULTS
Greater pre-diagnosis PA was associated with better physical functioning at 39 months (betas 1.1-2.3; all p < 0.01) but was generally unrelated to symptoms. Greater post-diagnosis sports/recreational PA was related to less fatigue and better physical functioning (betas -0.146, 2.21; both p < 0.01). Increased PA after cancer was related to less fatigue and pain and better physical functioning (all p < 0.01). Significant positive associations were found for moderate to vigorous and vigorous sports/recreation PA, not household activity. Results were similar for Hispanic and non-Hispanic White women.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased PA, especially after cancer, was consistently related to better physical functioning and to reduced fatigue and bodily pain, underscoring the need for PA promotion among survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
Survivors may be able to decrease fatigue and bodily pain and be better able to pursue daily activities through increasing recreational PA after cancer.
Alfano
Catherine M
CM
Comprehensive Cancer Center and School of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Smith
Ashley Wilder
AW
Irwin
Melinda L
ML
Bowen
Deborah J
DJ
Sorensen
Bess
B
Reeve
Bryce B
BB
Meeske
Kathleen A
KA
Bernstein
Leslie
L
Baumgartner
Kathy B
KB
Ballard-Barbash
Rachel
R
Malone
Kathleen E
KE
McTiernan
Anne
A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002140:California; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico; D010146:Pain; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States; D014861:Washington