Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physical Activity and Gynecologic Cancer Survivorship

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Physical Activity and Cancer

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 186))

Abstract

Gynecologic oncology involves the study of preinvasive disease and cancers of the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, ovaries, and gestational trophoblastic disease. Endometrial cancer is the most common of the pelvic malignancies however, ovarian cancer is the most lethal. The other gynecologic cancers have not been studied in relation to physical activity (PA) and prognosis, and therefore are not included. Research addressing the relationship between PA and ovarian and endometrial cancer is sparse nevertheless, there are some emerging concepts. Studies suggest that overweight/obesity is associated with reduced survival from ovarian cancer, but the role that PA plays in these results, and whether survival can be altered by changes in body weight and/or PA following diagnosis is unknown. Limited research reveals that increased PA in older ovarian cancer patients is feasible and safe. The majority of endometrial cancer patients are overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with higher mortality, probably from cardiovascular disease and not cancer. Research reveals that increasing PA in overweight/obese endometrial cancers is feasible and successful. The effects of increased PA on recurrence or survival in gynecological cancers are not yet established, and randomized controlled trials are needed for definitive data.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 209.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 269.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 269.00
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

  • American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, accessed January 12, 2010

  • Pomel C, Jeyarajah A, Oram D, Shepherd J, Milliken D, Dauplat J, Reynolds K (2007) Cytoreductive surgery in ovarian cancer. Cancer Imaging 7: 210–215

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winter WE, Maxwell GL, Tian C, Carlson JW, Ozols RF, Rose PG, Markman M, Armstrong DK, Muggia F, McGuire WP (2007) Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. Prognostic factors for stage III epithelial ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol 25(24): 3621–3627

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ozols RF (2006) Challenges for chemotherapy in ovarian cancer. Ann Oncol 17(Suppl 5): v181–v187

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong DK, Bundy B, Wenzel L, Huang HQ, Baergen R, Lele S, Copeland LJ, Walker JL, Burger RA (2006) Gynecologic Oncology Group. Intraperitoneal cisplatin and paclitaxel in ovarian cancer. N Engl J Med 354(1):34–43

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markman M (2008) Pharmaceutical management of ovarian cancer: current status. Drugs 68(6): 771–789

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bandera EV, Kushi LH, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L (2009) Nutritional factors in ovarian cancer survival. Nutr Cancer 61(5):580–586

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Irwin ML, Mayne ST (2008) Impact of nutrition and exercise on cancer survival. Cancer J 14(6):435–441

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Speed-Andrews AE, Courneya KS (2009) Effects of exercise on quality of life and prognosis in cancer survivors. Curr Sports Med Rep 8(4):176–181

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Speck RM, Courneya KS, Mâsse LC, Duval S, Schmitz KH (2010). An update of controlled physical activity trials in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cancer Surviv 4(2):87–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Colditz GA, Coakley E (1997) Weight, weight gain, activity, and major illnesses: the Nurses’ Health Study. Int J Sports Med 18(Suppl 3):S162–170

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Calle EE, Rodriguez C, Walker-Thurmond K, Thun MJ (2003) Overweight, obesity, and mortality from cancer in a prospectively studied cohort of U.S. adults. N Engl J Med 348(17): 1625–1638

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez C, Calle EE, Fakhrabadi-Shokoohi D, Jacobs EJ, Thun MJ (2002) Body mass index, height, and the risk of ovarian cancer mortality in a prospective cohort of postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 11(9): 822–828

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pavelka JC, Brown RS, Karlan BY, Cass I, Leuchter RS, Lagasse LD, Li AJ (2006) Effect of obesity on survival in epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer 107(7):1520–1524

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang L, Klint A, Lambe M, Bellocco R, Riman T, Bergfeldt K, Persson I, Weiderpass E (2008) Predictors of ovarian cancer survival: A population-based prospective study in Sweden. Int J Cancer 123:672–679

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaerbye-Thygesen A, Frederiksen K, Høgdall EV, Glud E, Christensen L, Høgdall CK, Blaakaer J, Kjaer SK (2006) Smoking and overweight: negative prognostic factors in stage III epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 15(4):798–803

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Xie X, Lee AH, Binns CW, Holman CD (2005) Body mass index in relation to ovarian cancer survival. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14(5):1307–1310

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stevinson C, Steed H, Faught W, Tonkin K, Vallance JK, Ladha AB, Schepansky A, Capstick V, Courneya KS (2009) Physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors: associations with fatigue, sleep, and psychosocial functioning. Int J Gynecol Cancer 19(1):73–8

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel L, Huang HQ, Monk BJ, Rose PG, Cella D (2005) Quality-of-life comparisons in a randomized trial of interval secondary cytoreduction in advanced ovarian carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study. J Clin Oncol 23(24): 5605–5612

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gil KM, Gibbons HE, Jenison EL, Hopkins MP, von Gruenigen VE (2007) Baseline characteristics influencing quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncology surgery. Health Qual Life Outcomes 5:25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • von Gruenigen V, Frasure H, Kavanagh M, Nieves-Arriba L, Lerner E, Waggoner S, Courneya K (2010) Physical activity may improve quality of life in women with ovarian cancer on adjuvant chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol 116(3):S140

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle C, Kushi L, Byers T et al (2006) Nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment: An American Cancer Society guide to informed choices. CA Cancer J Clin 56: 323–353

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • von Gruenigen VE, Huang HQ, Gil KM, Gibbons HE, Monk BJ, Rose PG, Armstrong DK,Cella D, Wenzel L (2009). Assessment of factors that contribute to decreased quality of life in Gynecologic Oncology Group ovarian cancer trials. Cancer 15;115(20):4857–4864

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeves GK, Pirie K, Beral V, Green J, Spencer E, Bull D (2007) Million Women Study Collaboration. Cancer incidence and mortality in relation to body mass index in the Million Women Study: cohort study. BMJ 335(7630): 1134

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Conroy MB, Sattelmair JR, Cook NR, Manson JE, Buring JE, Lee IM (2009) Physical activity, adiposity, and risk of endometrial cancer. Cancer Causes Control 20(7):1107–1115

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friedenreich C, Cust A, Lahmann PH et al (2007) Physical activity and risk of endometrial cancer: the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. Int J Cancer 121(2):347–355

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gierach GL, Chang SC, Brinton LA, Lacey JV Jr, Hollenbeck AR, Schatzkin A, Leitzmann MF (2009) Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and endometrial cancer risk in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Int J Cancer 124(9): 2139–2147

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patel AV, Feigelson HS, Talbot JT, McCullough ML, Rodriguez C, Patel RC, Thun MJ, Calle EE (2008) The role of body weight in the relationship between physical activity and endometrial cancer: results from a large cohort of US women. Int J Cancer 123(8):1877–1882

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • von Gruenigen VE, Tian C, Frasure H, Waggoner S, Keys H, Barakat RR (2006) Treatment effects, disease recurrence, and survival in obese women with early endometrial carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study. Cancer 107(12): 2786–2791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Modesitt SC, Tian C, Kryscio R, Thigpen JT, Randall ME, Gallion HH, Fleming GF (2007) Gynecologic Oncology Group. Impact of body mass index on treatment outcomes in endometrial cancer patients receiving doxorubicin and cisplatin: A Gynecologic Oncology Group study. Gynecol Oncol 105(1):59–65

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fader AN, Arriba LN, Frasure HE, von Gruenigen VE (2009) Endometrial cancer and obesity: epidemiology, biomarkers, prevention and survivorship. Gynecol Oncol 114(1)):121–127

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fader AN, Gibbons H, Gil K (2008) von Gruenigen. The impact of obesity on health-related quality of life in endometrial cancer survivors. Gynecol Oncol 108(3):S7–S8

    Google Scholar 

  • Courneya KS, Karvinen KH, Campbell KL, Pearcey RG, Dundas G, Capstick V, Tonkin KS (2005) Associations among exercise, body weight, and quality of life in a population-based sample of endometrial cancer survivors. Gynecol Oncol 97(2):422–430

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Basen-Engquist K, Scruggs S, Jhingran A, Bodurka DC, Lu K, Ramondetta L, Hughes D, Taylor CC (2009). Physical activity and obesity in endometrial cancer survivors: Associations with pain, fatigue, and physical functioning. Am J Obstet Gynecol 200(3):288.e1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • von Gruenigen VE, Gil KM, Frasure HE, Jenison EL, Hopkins MP (2005) The impact of obesity and age on quality of life in gynecologic surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol 193(4):1369–1375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • von Gruenigen VE, Courneya KS, Gibbons HE, Kavanagh MB, Waggoner SE, Lerner E (2008) Feasibility and effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention program in obese endometrial cancer patients: A randomized trial. Gynecol Oncol 109(1):19–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, Dietz WH, Vinicor F, Bales VS, Marks JS (2003) Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001. JAMA 289(1): 76–79

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH, USA

    Karen M. Gil

  2. Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy, Rootstown, OH, USA

    Karen M. Gil & Vivian E. von Gruenigen (Chair)

  3. Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akron City and St. Thomas Hospitals, System Medical Director for Women’s Health, Summa Health System, Akron, OH, USA

    Vivian E. von Gruenigen (Chair)

Authors
  1. Karen M. Gil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vivian E. von Gruenigen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vivian E. von Gruenigen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Physical Education & Recreation, University of Alberta, Van Vliet Center E488, Edmonton, T6G 2H9, Alberta, Canada

    Kerry S. Courneya

  2. Div. Population Health & Information, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 29th Street NW., 1331, Calgary, T2N 4N2, Alberta, Canada

    Christine M. Friedenreich

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gil, K.M., von Gruenigen, V.E. (2010). Physical Activity and Gynecologic Cancer Survivorship. In: Courneya, K., Friedenreich, C. (eds) Physical Activity and Cancer. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 186. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04231-7_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04231-7_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-04230-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-04231-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation