Abstract Weight gain during chemotherapy for breast cancer is a well-documented adverse side effect. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), including glucose intolerance, hypertension and dyslipidaemia in breast cancer patients are further exacerbated by menopause. This impact on mortality is relevant as many women with early-stage breast cancer may be treated however experience a greater risk of developing chronic disease, higher rates of cancer recurrence, and post-diagnosis death. Intentional weight loss of 5-10% body weight and muscle mass preservation has found to improve metabolic markers. We evaluated how multidisciplinary weight management involving endocrinology, dietitian and exercise physiology care, in a real-life Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC) could affect body weight and mass composition outcomes in breast cancer women receiving adjuvant chemotherapy compared to a cohort of non-cancer women who have been matched by age, ethnicity, smoking and menopausal status. Body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m 2), skeletal muscle mass (SMM %), fat mass (FM %) and waist circumference (cm) were collected at three time points: baseline 0-months at the first HWC appointment, 3-months after baseline, and 6-months after baseline. A total of 32 women were included in the study, 11 in the breast cancer cohort and 21 in the control cohort. There were significant changes in weight, BMI, SMM, FM and waist circumference for the breast cancer cohort at all time intervals. By 6-months, the breast cancer women had a mean weight change of -6.99kg (SD=3.87, p=. 003, n=11) and change in BMI by -2.72kg/m 2 (SD=1.62, p=. 004, n=11). There was a change in SMM of 1.21% (SD=0.73, p=. 005, n=11), a change in FM of -2.76% (SD=1.33, p=. 002, n=11) and a change in waist circumference of -8.13cm (SD=4.21, p=. 031, n=3). The control cohort had similar trend changes in weight, BMI and waist circumference, however there was no statistically significant change in SMM or FM over time. By 6-months in the breast cancer cohort, there was a larger reduction in body weight in women who did not have MetS (-8.72kg, SD=2.41, n=6) in comparison to women with MetS (-2.65kg, SD=3.75kg, n=3) (p=. 045). For the control cohort, anthropometric outcomes were not impacted by MetS status (p>. 05). Although these findings are in a small sample size, it appears that multidisciplinary weight management has a positive role in early-stage breast cancer survival through improving body weight and mass composition outcomes. Targeting pre-existing MetS status through lifestyle changes is also an important consideration, beyond a specific weight focus. Presentation: No date and time listed
Read full abstract