Breast cancer treatment can cause a variety of side effects that affect daily life, including fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbances, anxiety, pain, and decreased physical function. These symptoms can continue throughout treatment and significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Researchers wanted to determine whether regular exercise during active treatment could help patients feel better and improve their overall quality of life.
What Did Researchers Study?
– 80 women with stage I-IV breast cancer who were actively receiving treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy) participated.
– Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups:
– A supervised in-person exercise program.
– A supervised home-based exercise program with virtual monitoring.
– Standard exercise recommendations from their oncologist (control group).
– The exercise programs lasted 24 weeks.
– Researchers measured quality of life before and after the program using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.
What Did the Study Find?
After 24 weeks, researchers found that:
– Women participating in the supervised in-person and home-based exercise programs had significant improvements in overall quality of life.
– Women who only received exercise recommendations did not experience the same improvements.
– Exercise helped reduce:
– Fatigue
– Nausea and vomiting
– Loss of appetite
– Constipation
– Both supervised exercise programs were effective, showing that home-based exercise can be a practical option for patients who cannot attend in-person sessions.
What Kind of Exercise Did Participants Do?
The structured exercise program combined aerobic exercise, strength (resistance) training, and stretching to help improve overall fitness and support patients during treatment.
Each supervised session included:
– 10 minutes of light warm-up activities.
– 40 minutes of aerobic and strength-training exercises tailored to each participant’s fitness level.
– 10 minutes of stretching and cool-down exercises.
Participants either completed these sessions in person with an exercise professional or from home through live virtual supervision. The exercise intensity gradually increased over the 24-week program based on each participant’s abilities and progress.
Why Does This Matter?
Many people worry that exercise during cancer treatment may be too difficult or unsafe. This study suggests that appropriately guided exercise can be both safe and beneficial during treatment. Even exercising at home with guidance helped patients feel better and improve their quality of life.
Main Takeaways
– Exercise during active breast cancer treatment can improve quality of life.
– Both supervised in-person and home-based exercise programs were effective.
– Participants reported improvements in fatigue, nausea, appetite, and constipation.
– Home-based exercise may be a convenient option for patients who cannot attend supervised sessions.
– Talk with your healthcare team before starting a new exercise program to determine what activities are safe for you.
Source: Suárez-Alcázar MP, et al. Exercise and Quality of Life (QoL) in Patients Undergoing Active Breast Cancer Treatment—Comparison of Three Modalities of a 24-Week Exercise Program—A Randomized Clinical Trial.