Effects of a supervised exercise intervention on recovery from treatment regimens in breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of supervised exercise training on cardiopulmonary function and fatigue in cancer survivors undergoing various clinical treatments.


METHODS
Pretest and post-test quasiexperimental.


METHODS
Outpatient oncology rehabilitation center.


METHODS
96 breast cancer survivors undergoing various clinical treatments.


METHODS
Subjects were divided into four groups based on the specific type of clinical treatment: surgery alone (n = 22); surgery and chemotherapy (n = 30); surgery and radiation (n = 17); and surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation (n = 27). Following a comprehensive screening and medical examination, cardiovascular endurance, pulmonary function, and fatigue were assessed, leading to the development of an individualized exercise prescription and a six-month exercise intervention. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and covariance were used to compare the effectiveness of the intervention and differences among treatment groups.


METHODS
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume, predicted oxygen consumption, time on treadmill, and fatigue.


RESULTS
Cardiopulmonary function (predicted maximal oxygen consumption and time on treadmill) significantly increased in all groups after exercise training. In addition, resting heart rate and forced vital capacity significantly improved in those receiving surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Psychologically, the exercise intervention resulted in significant reductions in behavioral, affective, sensory, cognitive and mood, and total fatigue scale scores in all three groups who received treatment with surgery. The breast cancer survivors in the surgery-alone group showed significant reductions in behavioral, affective, and total fatigue scale scores but not in sensory and cognitive and mood fatigue scale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that moderate intensity, individualized, prescriptive exercise maintains or improves cardiopulmonary function with concomitant reductions in fatigue regardless of treatment type. Moreover, cancer survivors receiving combination chemotherapy and radiotherapy following surgery appear to benefit to a greater extent as a result of an individualized exercise intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians need to be aware of adjuvant therapies such as moderate exercise that attenuate negative side effects of cancer treatments. Symptom management recommendations should be given to cancer survivors concerning the effectiveness of exercise throughout the cancer continuum and the importance of participating in a cancer rehabilitation exercise program.
Hsieh
City C
CC
Department of Physical Education, The National HsinChu University of Education, Taiwan.
Sprod
Lisa K
LK
Hydock
David S
DS
Carter
Susan D
SD
Hayward
Reid
R
Schneider
Carole M
CM
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index