Interactions between physical activity and type of cancer treatment received on associations with psychosocial outcomes among gynecologic cancer survivors.

OBJECTIVE

Physical activity is associated with improved cancer outcomes; however, it is unclear which patients may benefit most from increased physical activity. We evaluated whether associations between meeting the American Cancer Society (ACS) physical activity recommendations and psychosocial outcomes in gynecologic cancer survivors varied by type of treatments received.

METHODS

We recruited English-speaking adult gynecologic cancer patients from an academic gynecologic oncology practice to participate in a prospective cohort study. Participants completed a survey at study entry regarding their psychosocial health-including distress, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and quality of life (QoL)-and physical activity. Multivariate linear regression models for each psychosocial outcome tested for interactions between physical activity and each effect modifier (receipt of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and/or minimally invasive surgery), adjusted for age, pain, body mass index, primary cancer diagnosis, cancer stage, time since diagnosis, and annual household income.

RESULTS

Among a total of 362 participants, 213 (59%) met ACS physical activity recommendations. We found evidence of interactions between physical activity and receipt of chemotherapy for depression, anxiety, and QoL scores; those who had received chemotherapy had a stronger association between physical activity and these psychosocial outcomes, compared to those who had not. We found no evidence of interactions between physical activity and receipt of radiation therapy or minimally invasive surgery for any of the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Gynecologic cancer survivors who received chemotherapy had significant associations between psychosocial health and physical activity, suggesting they may derive greatest benefit from prescribed exercise.