Feasibility and promise of a 6-week program to encourage physical activity and reduce joint symptoms among elderly breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitor therapy.
BACKGROUND
National guidelines suggest that women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer be considered for adjuvant endocrine treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (AI). Joint symptoms (arthralgia) are a common AI side-effect. There is a need for effective approaches to arthralgia management that enable survivors to remain on AI therapy while optimizing as pain-free a life as possible. This feasibility study investigates a 6-week self-directed walking program in a sample of elderly female breast cancer survivors on AIs reporting joint pain.


METHODS



METHODS
Walk With Ease (WWE) goal--minimum 30 min of walking 5 days a week (150 min per week). Eligibility: age >65; Stage I-III breast cancer; ≥3 months of AI therapy; self-reported joint pain/stiffness.


METHODS
(1) walking--number of days/week and number of minutes/walk, (2) visual analog scales (VAS) for joint pain, fatigue and stiffness, and (3) arthritis self-efficacy (ASE) to manage joint pain and fatigue.


METHODS
t-tests, correlation coefficients and effect sizes.


RESULTS
Sample target of 20 was achieved--mean age 71 (65-87), 85% Caucasian, mean BMI 29. Proportion walking 150 min/week increased from 21% at baseline to 50% at 6 weeks (p < 0.001). Mean joint pain at baseline (39.7 + 26.9) decreased 10% (p = 0.63), fatigue (37.4+33.3) decreased 19% (p = 0.31), joint stiffness (46.1 + 27.2) decreased 32% (p = 0.07).


CONCLUSIONS
A self-directed walking program among elderly breast cancer survivors on AI therapy significantly increased total time of walking per week over a 6 week period. Joint pain, stiffness, and fatigue also decreased, although not significantly. Testing within a larger sample is warranted.
Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Kirsten A
KA
Nyrop
Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Hyman B
HB
Muss
Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Betsy
B
Hackney
Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Rebecca
R
Cleveland
UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Mary
M
Altpeter
Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
Leigh F
LF
Callahan
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005221:Fatigue / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011788:Quality of Life; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D020377:Self Efficacy; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors
Aromatase inhibitor; Arthralgia; Physical activity