title: Effect of dance on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cancer-related fatigue is a multidimensional symptom with an underestimated prevalence and severity in cancer patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dance as a holistic sportive activity in cancer patients under active anticancer treatment with fatigue as endpoint.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients under active anticancer treatment (adjuvant (25), palliative (11) or neoadjuvant (4)) with moderate or severe fatigue (≥ 4 on the visual analogue scale) were investigated in two groups for severity of fatigue (visual analogue scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy: Fatigue questionnaire), quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Questionnaire) and physical performance (6-minute walk test) before and after the study period--group A (n = 20): intervention (10 dance classes in 5 weeks in addition to counselling) and group B (n = 20): control (no dance, standard of care, counselling).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant improvements for cancer-related fatigue in the intervention group (baseline mean ± SD 5.95 ± 1.701, end-of-study mean 3.8 ± 1.542, p = 0.001, reduction of 36 %) compared to the control group (baseline mean 4.95 ± 0.999, end-of-study mean unchanged at 5.0 ± 1.556, p = 0.887); as well as for emotional and social functioning scales and physical performance (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dance might be an appropriate, effective approach for treatment of cancer-related fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, University Medical Center Charité, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany, isrid.sturm@charite.de.
authors.forename: Isrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sturm
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baak
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Storek
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traore
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thuss-Patience
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003614:Dance Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires