Effects of an Exercise Intervention on Lung Cancer Patients Who Have Undergone a Lobectomy

Abstract

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed form of cancer, and is often treated surgically via tumor resection and lobectomy. Removal of lung tissue often impairs cardiopulmonary function, reduces activities of daily living, and lowers quality of life. Exercise interventions improve cardiopulmonary health and may attenuate the negative effects of lung cancer and its treatment. PURPOSE: To evaluate the response of lung cancer patients who had previously undergone a lobectomy to a structured, supervised 12- week exercise intervention, and compare these results with all other cancer patients completing the same exercise intervention. METHODS: Nine male and female lung cancer survivors who had previously undergone a lobectomy, were recruited to participate in a 12-week exercise-based rehabilitation program. The program consisted of one hour sessions, three days per week, and included cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, balance, and flexibility exercises. Subjects completed pre and post assessments of cardiopulmonary function, consisting of a graded exercise test, yielding peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), and spirometry, yielding forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1). Subjects were divided into two groups: surgical resection including lobectomy (LOB, n = 9), and all other cancers (AOC, n = 205). RESULTS: There were significant improvements in VO2 peak in the LOB group (Pre: 15 ± 2 mL/kg/min, Post: 19 ± 5 mL/kg/min; +20%; p = 0.03) and no significant changes in FVC and FEV1. There were significant improvements in VO2 peak (Pre: 21 ± 0.5 mL/kg/min, Post: 24 ± 0.6 mL/kg/min; +13%; p = 0.00) and FEV1 (Pre: 95 ± 1 %-predicted, Post: 97 ± 1 %-predicted; +2.2%; p = 0.02) in the AOC group. Between group comparisons yielded no significant difference in improvement to VO2 peak for LOB vs AOC (p = 0.77). CONCLUSION: Results from this study demonstrate that lung cancer patients who have previously undergone a lobectomy can safely and effectively complete an individualized, prescriptive exercise intervention. These data also show that lung cancer survivors who have previously undergone a lobectomy are able to improve cardiopulmonary function to the same degree as all other cancer survivors completing a rehabilitative exercise intervention.