Cancer therapy-induced autonomic dysfunction in early breast cancer: Implications for aerobic exercise training

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States [1]. Due to improvements in detection and adjuvant therapy, breast cancer specific mortality has decreased significantly in women with early stage disease, and the five-year relative survival rate for early stage disease has increased from 80% in 1950 to 89% today [1]. Increased breast cancer specific survival, however, is at risk of being offset by the potential late occurring cardiovascular toxic effects of oncologic therapy. Indeed, among women with early breast cancer, particularly those over age 65, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is now the predominant cause of mortality, and these women are also at increased risk of CVD compared with age-matched women without a history of breast cancer [2].