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- Title
Feasibility of a 12-month-exercise intervention during and after radiation and chemotherapy in cancer patients: impact on quality of life, peak oxygen consumption, and body composition.
- Authors
Grabenbauer, Alexander; Grabenbauer, Andrea J.; Lengenfelder, Rosa; Grabenbauer, Gerhard G.; Distel, Luitpold V.
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Accumulating evidence suggests that exercise is effective in treating many of the acute and chronic side effects of anti-cancer therapy. A recent meta-analysis supported the use of exercise to prevent or treat fatigue and lymphoedema and to improve functional status in breast cancer patients.<bold>Patients and Methods: </bold>This trial was intended as a controlled, prospective feasibility study evaluating the impact of physical exercise (PE) in cancer patients during and after treatment with radio- and chemotherapy. Inclusion criteria were previous or ongoing treatment for cancer, motivation for PE of 0.5-1hour duration at least twice weekly for at least 3 months. Continuation of PE was encouraged thereafter. Every three months the following endpoints were assessed: Peak oxygen consumption as measured by supervised cardiopulmonary exercise test, body composition and quality of life.<bold>Results: </bold>A total of 45 patients were included with a median age of 49 years. Forty were female and five male. Cancer types were: Breast cancer (n = 30/67 %), gastrointestinal cancer (n = 5/12 %), other types (n = 10/22 %). Thirty-eight (84 %) of the patients were included during curative treatment of their disease. Seven (16 %) were considered palliative. Adherence to the PE-programme longer than 6 months was noted for 41/45 (91 %) of the patients. Intensity of PE was thrice weekly in 32/45 (71 %), twice weekly in 11/45 (24 %). Two of 45 patients (5 %) had no PE. Mean peak oxygen consumption increased from 18.8 ± 5.6 ml/min/kg to 20.5 ± 3 ml/min/kg and 19.9 ± 4.7 ml/min/kg at 3 months (p = 0.005) and 12 months (p = 0.003), respectively. Median fat mass decreased from 30.7 ± 15 kg to 28.9 ± 15 kg and 29.5 ± 13 kg at 3 months (p = 0.001) and 12 months (p = 0.017), respectively. Global health status scores increased from a median baseline value of 54.9 ± 16.3 to 66.4 ± 14 % and 68.0 ± 20.3 % at 3 months (p = 0.001) and 12 months (p = 0.002), respectively.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>This exercise programme in cancer patients with 2-3 weekly supervised sessions over three months was well feasible and demonstrated measurable improvement of oxygen consumption, body composition and quality of life. In addition, a 90 %-adherence rate to the PE-programme beyond 6 months was encouraging. Further randomized prospective data in a larger patient population will be collected comparing the impact of two versus four months supervision.
- Subjects
CANCER chemotherapy; LYMPHEDEMA treatment; META-analysis; BREAST cancer chemotherapy; COMEDO carcinoma; BREAST tumor treatment; FATIGUE prevention; TUMOR treatment; FATIGUE (Physiology); LYMPHEDEMA; GASTROINTESTINAL tumors treatment; BREAST tumors; GASTROINTESTINAL tumors; BODY composition; DRUG therapy; COMPARATIVE studies; EXERCISE; EXERCISE therapy; LONGITUDINAL method; RESEARCH methodology; MEDICAL cooperation; QUALITY of life; RADIOTHERAPY; RESEARCH; TUMORS; EVALUATION research; TREATMENT effectiveness; OXYGEN consumption; PSYCHOLOGY; PREVENTION; THERAPEUTICS; CANCER &; psychology
- Publication
Radiation Oncology, 2016, Vol 11, p1
- ISSN
1748-717X
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1186/s13014-016-0619-5