Abstract
This study explored the perspectives and experiences of breast cancer patients and medical oncologists with regards to participation in a lifestyle intervention at a tertiary cancer treatment center. A thematic approach was used to understand the context within which a lifestyle intervention was recommended and experienced, to inform future lifestyle programming and promote uptake. Twelve women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and eight medical oncologists completed interviews. Findings suggest receiving a prescription for a lifestyle intervention from a trusted health professional was influential to women with breast cancer. The intervention offered physical, psychological, emotional, social, and informational benefits to the women and oncologists perceived both physiological and relational benefit to prescribing the intervention. Challenges focused on program access and tailored interventions. Lifestyle prescriptions are perceived by women with breast cancer to have numerous benefits and may promote lifestyle interventions and build rapport between oncologists and women. Oncology healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in motivating women’s participation in lifestyle interventions during breast cancer treatment. Maintenance programs that transition patients into community settings and provide on-going information and follow-up are needed.
Highlights
There is compelling evidence that exercise is safe for breast cancer patients during treatment and helps to manage many common side effects, as well as enhance quality of life, and overall health of cancer survivors [1,2]
While medical oncologists perceived a prescription as a significant motivating factor for breast cancer patients, the women described being motivated by the potential benefits of attending a breast cancer-specific lifestyle intervention, and their desire to improve their well-being following diagnosis
These findings were similar to Park et al, who found that an exercise recommendation solely from an oncologist was insufficient in motivating general exercise uptake in a breast and colorectal cancer population [21]
Summary
There is compelling evidence that exercise is safe for breast cancer patients during treatment and helps to manage many common side effects, as well as enhance quality of life, and overall health of cancer survivors [1,2]. Potential reasons for the limited knowledge translation were well described by Santa Mina and colleagues [10]. These include, among other factors, “an impression among clinicians that exercise may increase the risk of injury, fatigue and exacerbation of symptoms; overwhelmed and financially drained clinical programs; physical space restrictions; overall lack of clinicians with relevant exercise and clinical education and experience; and lack of discussion between patient and physician about exercise” [10] These include, among other factors, “an impression among clinicians that exercise may increase the risk of injury, fatigue and exacerbation of symptoms; overwhelmed and financially drained clinical programs; physical space restrictions; overall lack of clinicians with relevant exercise and clinical education and experience; and lack of discussion between patient and physician about exercise” [10] (p. e137)
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