The Effects Of Supervised Exercise Training On Cancer Survivors At Varying Cancer Stages

Abstract

Limited research has been completed comparing the outcomes of supervised exercise training in cancer survivors at varying cancer stages. PURPOSE: To compare the physiological and psychological alterations that occur as a result of individualized supervised exercise interventions in cancer survivors at varying cancer stages. METHODS: Fifty two cancer survivors were grouped according to their cancer stage. Fourteen cancer survivors participating in the exercise intervention were Stage I, 22 cancer survivors were Stage II, 10 cancer survivors were Stage III, and 6 cancer survivors were Stage IV. Participants completed a medical evaluation, baseline physiological and psychological assessment followed by a three month individualized supervised exercise intervention. Cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, pulmonary function, fatigue, depression, and quality of life were assessed pre and post exercise. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between cancer stage on any parameter (P < 0.05). However, significant improvements (P < 0.05) were found across time (pre to post 3-month intervention) on treadmill time in the patients in Stage I (25%), Stage II (26%), and Stage IV (32%) but not in cancer patients in Stage III. Muscular endurance [bench press (34%) and leg press (64%)] significantly improved (P < 0.05) in the cancer patients in Stage II while the patients in the other cancer stages showed improvements from 18% to 81% but these changes were not significant due to the low number of patients in these stages. Pulmonary function pre to post exercise did not show improvements across time in any cancer stage. Psychologically, fatigue decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in Stage II patients (-23%) while not significantly in the patients in the other stages even though the percent reduction in fatigue ranged from -8% to -42%. Depression decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the patients in Stage II (-32%) and in Stage IV (-40%) while quality of life improved significantly (P <0.05) in the Stage II patients (20%). CONCLUSION: The positive response to exercise training in cancer survivors is not cancer stage specific. Cancer survivors show improvements following an exercise intervention regardless of cancer stage.