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Effects of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

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Abstract

Few randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of combined aerobic and resistance training in breast cancer survivors soon after completing adjuvant therapy. Breast cancer survivors (N = 58) within 2 years of completing adjuvant therapy were randomly assigned to an immediate exercise group (IEG; n = 29) or a delayed exercise group (DEG; n = 29). The IEG completed 12 weeks of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise, three times per week. The DEG completed the program during the next 12 weeks. Participants completed patient-rated outcomes at baseline, 6, 12, 18 and 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall quality of life (QoL) measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast scale. Secondary endpoints were fatigue, social physique anxiety, and physical fitness. Follow-up data was obtained on 97% of participants and exercise adherence was 61.3%. Repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant group by time interaction for overall QoL (P < 0.001). Specifically, QoL increased in the IEG from baseline to 12 weeks by 20.8 points compared to a decrease in the DEG of 5.3 points (mean group difference = 26.1; 95% CI = 18.3–32.7; P < 0.001). From 12 to 24 weeks, QoL increased in the DEG by 29.5 points compared to an increase of 6.5 points in the IEG (mean group difference = 23.0; 95% CI = 16.3–29.1; P < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for the secondary endpoints. Combined aerobic and resistance exercise soon after the completion of breast cancer therapy produces large and rapid improvements in health-related outcomes.

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Acknowledgements

Kerry S. Courneya is supported by the Canada Research Chairs Program and a Research Team Grant from the National Cancer Institute of Canada with funds from the Canadian Cancer Society and the NCIC/CCS Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Helen M. Milne, Karen E. Wallman & Sandy Gordon

  2. Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, 114 St - 89 Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada

    Kerry S. Courneya

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  1. Helen M. Milne
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  2. Karen E. Wallman
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  3. Sandy Gordon
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  4. Kerry S. Courneya
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Correspondence to Helen M. Milne.

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Milne, H.M., Wallman, K.E., Gordon, S. et al. Effects of a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat 108, 279–288 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9602-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9602-z

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