Effects Of Treatment Regimen On Muscular Fitness And Quality Of Life In Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Advancements in cancer treatments have led to significant reductions in cancer mortality. However, 70 to 95% of cancer patients experience negative physiological and psychological side-effects from the treatment regimen leading to loss of energy, muscular weakness, changes in emotional status, and loss of quality of life. PURPOSE: To investigate muscular fitness, depression, and quality of life in breast cancer survivors undergoing different clinical treatments. METHOD: Ninety-six breast cancer survivors were divided into four groups based on the specific type of clinical treatment: surgery alone (S) (n = 22), surgery and chemotherapy (SC) (n = 30), surgery and radiation (SR) (n = 17), surgery and chemotherapy and radiation (SCR) (n = 27). Following a comprehensive screening and medical examination, muscular endurance (leg press, curl-up crunch test, bench press, lateral pull-down, and shoulder press), depression (Beck Depression Inventory) and quality of life (Quality of Life Index) were assessed leading to the development of an individualized exercise prescription and a 6-month exercise intervention. RESULTS: Low-body and core muscular endurance significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the S, SC, SR, and SCR groups [leg press: 107%, 47%, 47%, 86%, respectively and curl-up crunch: 35%, 32%, 57%, 35%, respectively] after the exercise intervention. Upper-body muscular endurance significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the S, SR, and SCR groups [bench press: 70%, 67%, 91%, respectively and lateral pull-down: 62%, 50%, 125%, respectively] after the exercise intervention, but not in SC group. Additionally, there was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in upper-body muscular endurance in the S and SR groups on the shoulder press (57%, 38%, respectively). Psychologically, the exercise intervention resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in depression in all groups, while the S group showed significant improvements (P < 0.05) in total quality of life. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that moderate intensity, individualized, prescriptive exercise improves muscular endurance with concomitant reductions in depression regardless of treatment type. Moreover, cancer survivors receiving surgery appear to have improved quality of life as a result of an individualized exercise intervention.