Impact of Exercise Training Program on Fatigue and Health Related Quality of Life among Women with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Recovering from cancer treatment can be a difficult experience, both physically and psychologically. As the number of women surviving breast cancer is increasing and cancer treatment is linked to high incidence of fatigue and reduced quality of life, it is critical to evaluate interventions that could improve the quality of life of this population and hasten recovery following treatment. Physical exercise has been shown to affect fatigue and enhance quality of life (QOL) among cancer survivors. Objective. The current randomized controlled study evaluates the effects of exercise training upon fatigue reduction and health related-quality of life in women who have had breast cancer. Design: A pre-/ post test control group study design was utilized. Setting: Rheumatology Rehabilitation outpatients unit in Assiut University Hospital. Subjects: Sixty subjects were randomized to one of two groups: exercise therapy, or a normal care control group. Intervention: A supervised exercise training took place three times per week for 12 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Outcome measures included fatigue and quality of life. Fatigue was assessed by Chadler Fatigue Scale. Health-related QOL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) questionnaire. All outcomes are assessed at baseline, and at the end of the 12-week training. Results: the mean age of the study subjects was 44.68 years (SD = 6.84). Total fatigue scores at post-test were lower for patients receiving exercise (mean 24.3 ± SD 10.73) than for those of the control group (mean 37.2 ± SD. 3.38), resulting in a significant difference between groups at post-test. Scores on the MOS SF-36 varied among the subscales for the two groups at post-test. Physical function, general health perceptions, vitality, social function, role emotional and mental health, improved among the majority of study group after the 12-week exercise program. Conclusion: the results of the current study showed that breast cancer survivors who engaged in regular exercise reported higher quality of life and lower levels of fatigue after a 12-week exercise program. Clinical Implications: an aerobic exercise program is a potentially effective, low cost and safe intervention to manage fatigue and to improve QOL during adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. for breast cancer. This health promoting self-care activity needs further testing in large randomized clinical trails.