Effects of supplemental behavior-oriented exercise intervention in a disease management program for breast cancer

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and impact of a multimodal, behavior-oriented physical activity program on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), fatigue and endurance capacity for women undergoing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer as a supplement to standard care in a disease management program (DMP). Design: This study was designed as a classic follow-up intervention study. 68 female breast cancer patients took part in the exercise program (over 12 weeks, once a week for 90 minutes). All participants were tested twice (baseline (t 1 ) and at the last lesson of the program (t 2 )). Data was taken at each point in time due to the SF-36 (HRQoL) and the MFI-20 (cancer-related fatigue). Furthermore, all subjects paticipated in a 2 km walking test to assess their endurance capacity. Results: The participants were aged 64.7±7.76, diagnosed at month 45.2±45.7 at an average BMI of 25.6±4.37. The sample showed a clearly reduced health-related quality of life at time point t 1 compared to the norm for German healthy women. We were able to detect significant improvements in the “general health state” (p<0.05, d=0.23), the “psychological well-being” (p<0.05, d=0.38) and the “vitality” (p<0.05, d=0.23) of the intervention group after a 12-week behavior-oriented physical activity program, and there was also a relevant improvement in endurance capacity (p<0.01, d=0.30). Conclusion : The effects that have been observed in this study serve as first indicators that this kind of exercise program should be standard as adjuvant therapy for women enrolled in a disease management program for breast cancer.