Abstract
Introduction. Respiratory cancer and its treatment are known to contribute to muscle weakness and functional impairment. Aim. To assess the effects of rehabilitation in patients with respiratory cancer. Methods. Radically treated respiratory cancer patients were included in a 12-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Results. 16 patients (age: 61 ± 7 years; FEV1: 57 ± 16% pred.) showed a reduced exercise tolerance (VO2max: 56 ± 15% pred.; 6 MWD: 67 ± 11% pred.), muscle force (PImax: 54 ± 22% pred.; QF: 67 ± 16% pred.), and quality of life (CRDQd: 17 ± 5 points; CRDQf: 16 ± 5 points). Exercise tolerance, muscle force, and quality of life improved significantly after rehabilitation. Conclusion. Radically treated patients with respiratory cancer have a decreased exercise capacity, muscle force, and quality of life. 12 weeks of rehabilitation leads to a significant improvement in exercise capacity, respiratory muscle force, and quality of life.
Highlights
Respiratory cancer and its treatment are known to contribute to muscle weakness and functional impairment
Ten out of 16 patients were diagnosed with NSCLC, 4 patients were diagnosed with mesothelioma and two with a carcinoid tumour
Spontaneous recovery could have explained our results, there is a lot of evidence that radical treatment in lung cancer patients has downbeat effects on pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life, which last for at least 6 months [2, 28]
Summary
Respiratory cancer and its treatment are known to contribute to muscle weakness and functional impairment. Muscle force, and quality of life improved significantly after rehabilitation. Treated patients with respiratory cancer have a decreased exercise capacity, muscle force, and quality of life. 12 weeks of rehabilitation leads to a significant improvement in exercise capacity, respiratory muscle force, and quality of life. Radiotherapy, given at doses of 50–66 Gray (Gy), may lead to a functional loss of lung parenchyma, radiationinduced pneumonitis and esophagitis, causing a temporary reduction in food intake. All these treatments are known to contribute to muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and functional impairment [3,4,5]. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and cancer-related fatigue improve by training in these patients [6, 7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
