Effectiveness of a 12-month exercise program on physical performance and quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

AIM

The study aimed at determining whether physical exercise training improves the quality of life (QoL) and physical fitness of breast cancer survivors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 573 breast cancer survivors were randomized into an exercise or a control group, 12-months after adjuvant treatments. EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR-23 questionnaires were used for evaluation of QoL, FACIT-F for fatigue and the Finnish modified version of Beck's 13-item depression scale (RBDI) for depression. Physical fitness was assessed by a 2-km walking test, and a figure-8 running test and physical activity (PA) by metabolic equivalent (MET) hours per week (MET-h/wk).

RESULTS

Figure-8 running time improved significantly among the patients of the intervention group compared with the controls (p<0.001). No significant between-group differences were observed in 2-km walking time, in PA, EORTC-QLQ-C30, BR-23, FACIT-F or BDI. However, there was a linear relationship between increased PA and improved QoL (p=0.006), irrespective of the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Increase in physical activity was associated with improved QoL, but no effect of the exercise intervention was observed.