Skip to main content

Physical Function and Health-Related QOL in Cancer Survivors

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Physical Therapy and Research in Patients with Cancer
  • 396 Accesses

Abstract

Due to population growth and aging, as well as advances in early detection and treatment, the mortality rate from cancer is declining and the number of cancer survivors is on the rise. On the other hand, cancer treatment and aging impair physical function and health-related quality of life. Physical therapy is known to have the potential to maintain and improve both of these. This chapter describes reports on the actual physical function and quality of life of cancer survivors. Reports demonstrating the effectiveness of exercise therapy for cancer survivors will also be presented to serve as a reference for readers who provide survivors with this type of therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Miller KD, Nogueira L, Mariotto AB, et al. Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2019. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019;69:363–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold M, Rutherford MJ, Bardot A, et al. Progress in cancer survival, mortality, and incidence in seven high-income countries 1995-2014 (ICBP SURVMARK-2): a population-based study. Lancet Oncol. 2019;20:1493–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Yoshimura A, Ito H, Nishino Y, et al. Recent improvement in the long-term survival of breast cancer patients by age and stage in Japan. J Epidemiol. 2018;28:420–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zebrack BJ, Yi J, Petersen L, Ganz PA. The impact of cancer and quality of life for long-term survivors. Psychooncology. 2008;17:891–900.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Arndt V, Koch-Gallenkamp L, Jansen L, et al. Quality of life in long-term and very long-term cancer survivors versus population controls in Germany. Acta Oncol. 2017;56:190–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Morishita S, Tsubaki A, Fu JB, Mitobe Y, Onishi H, Tsuji T. Cancer survivors exhibit a different relationship between muscle strength and health-related quality of life/fatigue compared to healthy subjects. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2018;27:e12856.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schmidt ME, Wiskemann J, Steindorf K. Quality of life, problems, and needs of disease-free breast cancer survivors 5 years after diagnosis. Qual Life Res. 2018;27:2077–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Klein D, Mercier M, Abeilard E, et al. Long-term quality of life after breast cancer: a French registry-based controlled study. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011;129:125–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kaur N, Gupta A, Sharma AK, Jain A. Survivorship issues as determinants of quality of life after breast cancer treatment: report from a limited resource setting. Breast. 2018;41:120–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Timperi AW, Ergas IJ, Rehkopf DH, Roh JM, Kwan ML, Kushi LH. Employment status and quality of life in recently diagnosed breast cancer survivors. Psychooncology. 2013;22:1411–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Gutschow CA, Hölscher AH, Leers J, et al. Health-related quality of life after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy. Langenbeck's Arch Surg. 2013;398:231–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lutgendorf SK, Shinn E, Carter J, et al. Quality of life among long-term survivors of advanced stage ovarian cancer: a cross-sectional approach. Gynecol Oncol. 2017;146:101–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dobrzycka B, Terlikowski R, Kulesza-Brończyk B, Niklinski J, Terlikowsk SJ. Quality of life in long-term survivors of early stage endometrial cancer. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2017;24:513–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Stolley MR, Sheean P, Matthews L, et al. Exploring health behaviors, quality of life, and support needs in African-American prostate cancer survivors: a pilot study to support future interventions. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28:3135–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Boşnak Güçlü M, Barğı G, Sucak GT. Impairments in dyspnea, exercise capacity, physical activity and quality of life of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation survivors compared with healthy individuals: a cross sectional study. Physiother Theory Pract. 2021;37:52–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Alaloul F, Brockopp DY, Andrykowski MA, Hall LA, Al Nusairat TS. Quality of life in Arab Muslim cancer survivors following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: comparison with matched healthy group. Support Care Cancer. 2015;23:2157–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Jung SY, Kim YA, Jo M, et al. Prediagnosis obesity and secondary primary cancer risk in female cancer survivors: a national cohort study. Cancer Med. 2019;8:824–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Smith SA, Claridy MD, Whitehead MS, et al. Factors associated with body mass index among African American breast cancer survivors. J Ga Public Health Assoc. 2016;5:259–65.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Gross AL, May BJ, Axilbund JE, Armstrong DK, Roden RB, Visvanathan K. Weight change in breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women: a prospective study in women at familial risk of breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 2015;24:1262–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kenkhuis MF, van Roekel EH, Koole JL, et al. Increases in adipose tissue and muscle function are longitudinally associated with better quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors. Sci Rep. 2021;11:12440.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Marriott CJC, Beaumont LF, Farncombe TH, et al. Body composition in long-term survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia diagnosed in childhood and adolescence: a focus on sarcopenic obesity. Cancer. 2018;124:1225–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Villaseñor A, Ballard-Barbash R, Baumgartner K, et al. Prevalence and prognostic effect of sarcopenia in breast cancer survivors: the HEAL Study. J Cancer Surviv. 2012;6:398–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Lee SJ, Kim NC. Association between sarcopenia and metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors. Cancer Nurs. 2017;40:479–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kim H, Yoo S, Park YS, Park SG. Low dietary energy intake is associated with sarcopenia in cancer survivors: an analysis based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2011. Nutr Res. 2018;53:15–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sanver MF, Yagli NV, Saglam M, et al. Comparison of respiratory muscle strength and endurance, maximal oxygen consumption, and fatigue in colorectal cancer survivors with healthy adults. Support Care Cancer. 2021;29:3903–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Reding KW, Brubaker P, D’Agostino R, et al. Increased skeletal intermuscular fat is associated with reduced exercise capacity in cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study. Cardiooncology. 2019;5:3.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Ortiz A, Tirado M, Hughes DC, et al. Relationship between physical activity, disability, and physical fitness profile in sedentary Latina breast cancer survivors. Physiother Theory Pract. 2018;34:783–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ha D, Ries AL, Mazzone PJ, Lippman SM, Fuster MM. Exercise capacity and cancer-specific quality of life following curative intent treatment of stage I-IIIA lung cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26:2459–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. McCrary JM, Goldstein D, Wyld D, Henderson R, Lewis CR, Park SB. Mobility in survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and utility of the 6-min walk test. J Cancer Surviv. 2019;13:495–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Morishita S, Mitobe Y, Tsubaki A, et al. Differences in balance function between cancer survivors and healthy subjects: a pilot study. Integr Cancer Ther. 2018;17:1144–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kim H, Yoo S, Park SG, Son M. Cancer survivors with low hand grip strength have decreased quality of life compared with healthy controls: the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014–2017. Korean J Fam Med. 2021;42:204–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Morishita S, Hirabayashi R, Tsubaki A, et al. Assessment of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test, Timed Up and Go test, and body sway test between cancer survivors and healthy participants. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2019;69:28–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Paek J, Choi YJ. Association between hand grip strength and impaired health-related quality of life in Korean cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e030938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Yang L, Koyanagi A, Smith L, et al. Hand grip strength and cognitive function among elderly cancer survivors. PLoS One. 2018;13:e0197909.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Ihira H, Mizumoto A, Makino K, et al. Physical functions, health-related outcomes, nutritional status, and blood markers in community-dwelling cancer survivors aged 75 years and older. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15:3305–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Sulicka J, Pac A, Puzianowska-Kuźnicka M, et al. Health status of older cancer survivors-results of the PolSenior study. J Cancer Surviv. 2018;12:326–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Gewandter JS, Fan L, Magnuson A, et al. Falls and functional impairments in cancer survivors with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN): a University of Rochester CCOP study. Support Care Cancer. 2013;21:2059–66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Morishita S, Hirabayashi R, Tsubaki A, et al. Relationship between balance function and QOL in cancer survivors and healthy subjects. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021;100:e27822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Evans ES, Ketcham CJ, Hibberd JC, Cullen ME, Basiliere JG, Murphy DL. Examination of clinical and laboratory measures of static and dynamic balance in breast cancer survivors. Physiother Theory Pract. 2021;37:1199–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Winters-Stone KM, Medysky ME, Savin MA. Patient-reported and objectively measured physical function in older breast cancer survivors and cancer-free controls. J Geriatr Oncol. 2019;10:311–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Blackwood J, Rybicki K. Physical function measurement in older long-term cancer survivors. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2021;6:139–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Cavaletti G, Marmiroli P. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity. Curr Opin Neurol. 2015;28:500–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Pongthavornkamol K, Lekdamrongkul P, Pinsuntorn P, Molassiotis A. Physical symptoms, unmet needs, and quality of life in thai cancer survivors after the completion of primary treatment. Asia Pac J Oncol Nurs. 2019;6:363–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Mustafa Ali M, Moeller M, Rybicki L, Moore HCF. Long-term peripheral neuropathy symptoms in breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2017;166:519–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Bao T, Basal C, Seluzicki C, Li SQ, Seidman AD, Mao JJ. Long-term chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy among breast cancer survivors: prevalence, risk factors, and fall risk. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2016;159:327–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Zanville NR, Nudelman KN, Smith DJ, et al. Evaluating the impact of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms (CIPN-sx) on perceived ability to work in breast cancer survivors during the first year post-treatment. Support Care Cancer. 2016;24:4779–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Ezendam NP, Pijlman B, Bhugwandass C, et al. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and its impact on health-related quality of life among ovarian cancer survivors: results from the population-based PROFILES registry. Gynecol Oncol. 2014;135:510–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51:2375–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Winters-Stone KM, Dobek J, Nail L, et al. Strength training stops bone loss and builds muscle in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled trial. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2011;127:447–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Madzima TA, Ormsbee MJ, Schleicher EA, Moffatt RJ, Panton LB. Effects of resistance training and protein supplementation in breast cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2017;49:1283–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Santagnello SB, Martins FM, de Oliveira Junior GN, et al. Improvements in muscle strength, power, and size and self-reported fatigue as mediators of the effect of resistance exercise on physical performance breast cancer survivor women: a randomized controlled trial. Support Care Cancer. 2020;28:6075–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Serra MC, Ryan AS, Ortmeyer HK, Addison O, Goldberg AP. Resistance training reduces inflammation and fatigue and improves physical function in older breast cancer survivors. Menopause. 2018;25:211–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Winters-Stone KM, Dobek J, Bennett JA, Nail LM, Leo MC, Schwartz A. The effect of resistance training on muscle strength and physical function in older, postmenopausal breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. J Cancer Surviv. 2012;6:189–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Dobek J, Winters-Stone KM, Bennett JA, Nail L. Musculoskeletal changes after 1 year of exercise in older breast cancer survivors. J Cancer Surviv. 2014;8:304–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Santos WDND, Vieira A, de Lira CAB, et al. Once a week resistance training improves muscular strength in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019;18:1534735419879748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Murtezani A, Ibraimi Z, Bakalli A, Krasniqi S, Disha ED, Kurtishi I. The effect of aerobic exercise on quality of life among breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial. J Cancer Res Ther. 2014;10:658–64.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Brdareski Z, Djurović A, Susnjar S, et al. Effects of a short-term differently dosed aerobic exercise on maximum aerobic capacity in breast cancer survivors: a pilot study. Vojnosanit Pregl. 2012;69:237–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Burnham TR, Wilcox A. Effects of exercise on physiological and psychological variables in cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;34:1863–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Drum SN, Klika RJ, Carter SD, Sprod LK, Donath L. A feasibility study related to inactive cancer survivors compared with non-cancer controls during aerobic exercise training. J Sports Sci Med. 2016;15:592–600.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Vardar Yağlı N, Şener G, Arıkan H, et al. Do yoga and aerobic exercise training have impact on functional capacity, fatigue, peripheral muscle strength, and quality of life in breast cancer survivors? Integr Cancer Ther. 2015;14:125–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Ochi E, Tsuji K, Narisawa T, et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness in breast cancer survivors: a randomised controlled trial of home-based smartphone supported high intensity interval training. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2022;12:33–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Jones LM, Stoner L, Baldi JC, McLaren B. Circuit resistance training and cardiovascular health in breast cancer survivors. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2020;29:e13231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. de Paulo TRS, Winters-Stone KM, Viezel J, et al. Effects of resistance plus aerobic training on body composition and metabolic markers in older breast cancer survivors undergoing aromatase inhibitor therapy. Exp Gerontol. 2018;111:210–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  64. Thomas GA, Cartmel B, Harrigan M, et al. The effect of exercise on body composition and bone mineral density in breast cancer survivors taking aromatase inhibitors. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2017;25:346–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Marker RJ, Cox-Martin E, Jankowski CM, Purcell WT, Peters JC. Evaluation of the effects of a clinically implemented exercise program on physical fitness, fatigue, and depression in cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer. 2018;26:1861–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. Herrero F, San Juan AF, Fleck SJ, et al. Combined aerobic and resistance training in breast cancer survivors: a randomized, controlled pilot trial. Int J Sports Med. 2006;27:573–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  67. Møller T, Andersen C, Lillelund C, et al. Physical deterioration and adaptive recovery in physically inactive breast cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy: a randomised controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2020;10:9710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Kampshoff CS, Chinapaw MJ, Brug J, et al. Randomized controlled trial of the effects of high intensity and low-to-moderate intensity exercise on physical fitness and fatigue in cancer survivors: results of the Resistance and Endurance exercise After ChemoTherapy (REACT) study. BMC Med. 2015;13:275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Kalter J, Kampshoff CS, Chinapaw MJ, et al. Mediators of exercise effects on HRQoL in cancer survivors after chemotherapy. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48:1859–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  70. Nakano J, Fukushima T, Tanaka T, Fu JB, Morishita S. Physical function predicts mortality in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Support Care Cancer. 2021;29:5623–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Morishita S, Hamaue Y, Fukushima T, Tanaka T, Fu JB, Nakano J. Effect of exercise on mortality and recurrence in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Integr Cancer Ther. 2020;19:1534735420917462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Hardee JP, Porter RR, Sui X, et al. The effect of resistance exercise on all-cause mortality in cancer survivors. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014;89:1108–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shinichiro Morishita .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Morishita, S., Jinbo, R., Tsubaki, A., Fu, J.B. (2022). Physical Function and Health-Related QOL in Cancer Survivors. In: Morishita, S., Inoue, J., Nakano, J. (eds) Physical Therapy and Research in Patients with Cancer. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6710-8_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6710-8_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-6709-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-6710-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics