Benefits of 24 versus 12weeks of exercise and wellness programming for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

Abstract

Community exercise programs can help maintain or improve health in cancer survivors. However, the most effective and feasible duration of a community exercise program for breast cancer survivors who are undergoing treatment is not known. This pre-post-design study evaluated the effects of the "Breast cancer patients Engaging in Activity while Undergoing Treatment" (BEAUTY) program on physical and psychosocial outcomes after 12 and 24weeks. BEAUTY is an ongoing community exercise and wellness program for breast cancer patients who are undergoing, or within 3months of completing chemotherapy and radiation. Participants completed assessments at baseline, 12weeks, and 24weeks to measure body composition, hand-grip dynamometry, aerobic fitness, and flexibility. Self-report questionnaires assessed fatigue (FACIT-fatigue), cognitive function (FACT-cog), quality of life (QOL) (FACT-B), and depressive symptoms (CES-D). Main analyses were repeated measures general linear model for all outcomes. Assessments at all three time points were completed by N = 63 participants. At 24weeks, waist to hip ratio (p = .019), duration of the submaximal treadmill test (p = .013), and estimated VO2max (p = .018) improved compared to baseline. Fatigue improved at 24 compared to 12weeks (p = .002). FACT-B scores improved at 24weeks when compared to both baseline (p = .002) and 12weeks (p = .001). Depressive symptoms improved compared to baseline (p = .05) and 12weeks (p = .009). Additional benefits were seen after 24 versus 12weeks, suggesting that a longer duration exercise program during, or shortly after completing treatments for breast cancer, may be necessary to see improvements in fitness and psychosocial outcomes. Findings can be applied to community exercise and rehabilitation programs for breast cancer survivors.