Abstract P2-12-14: The effect of low intensity exercise for mental status and quality of life of Japanese early breast cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers, and it accounts for 20% of malignant tumors of women. Psychological damage of the breast cancer patient is serious. In our institution, approximately 30% of the early breast cancer patients diagnosed as depressed mental status before operation. Breast cancer patients have to receive hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for a long term after operation. Depressed mental status affects execution of the treatment, and the interruption of the treatment brings the risk of cancer recurrence. As a treatment for depressed mental status of cancer patients, medication and psychotherapy are common, but some previous reports showed exercise is effective. Exercises provided in these reports were various kinds and strength, and the standard prescription is not established. We investigate the effect of walking program as a mild aerobic exercise, whether it improves the depressed mental status and quality of life (QOL) of breast cancer patients. Methods: 25 early breast cancer patients were recruited. Depressed mental status and QOL were assessed by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Physical activity was measured by accelerometer (Lifecorder PLUS, Suzuken), and estimated using metabolic equivalent foe task (MET). Participants mounted accelerometer after discharge, and baseline physical activity was recorded till 1 month after operation. After recording baseline physical activity, we instructed to perform walking or mild aerobic exercise. Scores of CES-D and SF-36, and physical activity data were measured again after two months. Results: Physical activity after intervention was significantly increased as compared to baseline (8.5±5.5 vs 12.3±6.9 MET.h/week, p=0.02 ). At pre-operation phase, nine patients (36%) regarded as depressed mental status by CES-D, and depressed patients decreased to five at the time of 3 months after operation. A subscale of SF-36 ( mental health ) reduced significantly compared with pre-operation and 3 months after operation ( p<0.01 ). Physical activity after intervention was correlated with the scores of CES-D and all subscales of SF-36. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the possibility that walking program as a mild exercise improves mental status and QOL of perioperative breast cancer patients. It is necessary to examine in more detail for clinical application. Citation Format: Makiko Kamio, Kazumi Kawase, Hiroko Nogi, Ken Uchida, Hiroshi Takeyama. The effect of low intensity exercise for mental status and quality of life of Japanese early breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-12-14.