title: Effectiveness of a 12-month exercise program on physical performance and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed at determining whether physical exercise training improves the quality of life (QoL) and physical fitness of breast cancer survivors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 573 breast cancer survivors were randomized into an exercise or a control group, 12-months after adjuvant treatments. EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires were used for evaluation of QoL, FACIT-F for fatigue and the Finnish modified version of Beck's 13-item depression scale (RBDI) for depression. Physical fitness was assessed by a 2-km walking test, and a figure-8 running test and physical activity (PA) by metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per week (MET-h/wk).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Figure-8 running time improved significantly among the patients of the intervention group compared with the controls (p<0.001). No significant between-group differences were observed in 2-km walking time, in PA, EORTC-QLQ-C30, BR-23, FACIT-F or BDI. However, there was a linear relationship between increased PA and improved QoL (p=0.006), irrespective of the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increase in physical activity was associated with improved QoL, but no effect of the exercise intervention was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. tiina.saarto@hus.fi
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saarto
authors.forename: Heidi Marika
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Penttinen
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievänen
authors.forename: Pirkko-Liisa
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Kellokumpu-Lehtinen
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hakamies-Blomqvist
authors.forename: Riku
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nikander
authors.forename: Riikka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huovinen
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luoto
authors.forename: Hannu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kautiainen
authors.forename: Salme
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Järvenpää
authors.forename: Irja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Idman
authors.forename: Meri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Utriainen
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vehmanen
authors.forename: Anna-Stina
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Jääskeläinen
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elme
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruohola
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Palva
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vertio
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rautalahti
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fogelholm
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Minna-Liisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Luoma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D017741:Survivors