Health-Related Fitness and Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Advances in the overall effectiveness of cancer treatments have significantly increased cancer survival rates. However, these therapies have severe negative side effects lasting for days, months or even years following treatment. Therefore, it has become essential to determine strategies that will enhance the quality of life of cancer survivors. PURPOSE: Determine the effects of exercise on health-related fitness and quality of life (QOL) in cancer survivors during and following cancer treatment utilizing similar exercise assessments and individualized exercise interventions. METHODS: Two hundred seven cancer survivors were grouped according to cancer treatment status. Thirty-one survivors were undergoing treatment (DTm) while one hundred seventy-six had completed treatment (FTm). Following a medical examination, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility, depression, QOL and fatigue were assessed for the development of an individualized 6-month exercise intervention. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the effectiveness of the intervention and differences between groups. RESULTS: Cardiovascular endurance [predicted maximal oxygen consumption, time on treadmill] improved (p<.05) in the DTm and FTm groups. Muscular endurance [bench press, lats pulldown, shoulder press, leg press, leg extension, leg curl, curl crunches] improved (p<.05) in the FTm group while the DTm group maintained muscular endurance in the upper and lower body and improved (p<.05) on abdominal muscular endurance. Flexibility (sit & reach) improved (p<.05) in both groups. Psychologically, depression improved (p<.05) in the DTm and FTm groups while total QOL and total fatigue were maintained in the DTm group and improved (p<.05) in the FTm group. Body composition was maintained in both groups while handgrip strength was maintained in the FTm group and decreased (p<.05) in the DTm group. CONCLUSION: Moderate intensity, individualized prescriptive exercise improved or maintained health-related fitness and QOL in cancer survivors during and following cancer treatment. Thus, an appropriately implemented exercise intervention is a possible strategy to attenuate the side effects of cancer treatments.