18 research outputs found
Study protocol to investigate the effect of a lifestyle intervention on body weight, psychological health status and risk factors associated with disease recurrence in women recovering from breast cancer treatment
Background
Breast cancer survivors often encounter physiological and psychological problems related to their diagnosis and treatment that can influence long-term prognosis. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and psychological well-being in women recovering from breast cancer treatment, and to determine the relationship between changes in these variables and biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival.
Methods/design
Following ethical approval, a total of 100 patients will be randomly assigned to a lifestyle intervention (incorporating dietary energy restriction in conjunction with aerobic exercise training) or normal care control group. Patients randomised to the dietary and exercise intervention will be given individualised healthy eating dietary advice and written information and attend moderate intensity aerobic exercise sessions on three to five days per week for a period of 24 weeks. The aim of this strategy is to induce a steady weight loss of up to 0.5 Kg each week. In addition, the overall quality of the diet will be examined with a view to (i) reducing the dietary intake of fat to ~25% of the total calories, (ii) eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, (iii) increasing the intake of fibre and reducing refined carbohydrates, and (iv) taking moderate amounts of alcohol. Outcome measures will include body weight and body composition, psychological health status (stress and depression), cardiorespiratory fitness and quality of life. In addition, biomarkers associated with disease recurrence, including stress hormones, estrogen status, inflammatory markers and indices of innate and adaptive immune function will be monitored.
Discussion
This research will provide valuable information on the effectiveness of a practical, easily implemented lifestyle intervention for evoking positive effects on body weight and psychological well-being, two important factors that can influence long-term prognosis in breast cancer survivors. However, the added value of the study is that it will also evaluate the effects of the lifestyle intervention on a range of biomarkers associated with disease recurrence and survival. Considered together, the results should improve our understanding of the potential role that lifestyle-modifiable factors could play in saving or prolonging lives
Efeitos do treinamento de resistĂŞncia na força muscular e nĂveis de fadiga em pacientes com câncer de mama Los efectos de los ejercicios de resistencia sobre varios mĂşsculos y niveles de fatiga en pacientes con cáncer de mama The effects of resistance training on muscular strength and fatigue levels in breast cancer patients
Os efeitos de programas generalizados de atividade fĂsica no combate ao câncer e aos efeitos colaterais de seu tratamento tĂŞm sido amplamente relatados na literatura. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de examinar os efeitos de um programa de prescrição de exercĂcio fĂsico individualizado, com ĂŞnfase no treinamento resistido, na força muscular e nos nĂveis de fadiga em pacientes portadoras de câncer de mama em tratamento. Vinte mulheres foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, sendo um experimental (57,5 ± 23,0 anos) e um controle (56,6 ± 16,0 anos). O grupo experimental exercitou-se, apĂłs a cirurgia, durante 60 minutos, de forma moderada, duas vezes por semana, durante 21 semanas. A força muscular total foi avaliada antes e apĂłs o tratamento e os nĂveis de fadiga foram avaliados em trĂŞs momentos durante o treinamento. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas na força muscular total entre os grupos apĂłs o treinamento (p = 0,025). Os nĂveis de fadiga diminuĂram significativamente entre os grupos apĂłs a primeira (p = 0,001) e a segunda (p = 0,005) intervenção e ao final do tratamento (p = 0,001). Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que os exercĂcios resistidos devem ser incluĂdos na prescrição de exercĂcios no combate da fadiga e na melhoria da força muscular em mulheres com câncer de mama, submetidas a tratamento.<br>Los efectos de programas generalizados de actividad fĂsica de combate al cáncer y los efectos colaterales de su tratamiento vienen siendo bastante estudiados. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido el de examinar los efectos de un programa prescrito de ejercicio fĂsico individual, con Ă©nfasis en el entrenamiento resistido, en la fuerza muscular y en los niveles de fatiga en pacientes portadoras de cáncer de mama en tratamiento. Veinte mujeres fueron divididas aleatoriamente en dos grupos, siendo uno de ellos el experimental (57,5 ± 23,0 años) y el otro de control (56,6 ± 16,0 años). El grupo experimental se ejercitĂł despuĂ©s de una cirugĂa durante 60 minutos, de forma moderada, dos veces por semana, durante 21 semanas. La fuerza muscular total fue evaluada antes y despuĂ©s del tratamiento y los niveles de fatiga fueron evaluados en cuatro momentos durante los ejercicios. Fueron encontradas diferencias significativas en la fuerza muscular total entre los grupos despuĂ©s de los ejercicios (p = 0,025). Los niveles de fatiga disminuyeron significativamente entre los grupos despuĂ©s de la primera (p = 0,001) y la segunda (p = 0,005) intervenciĂłn y al final del tratamiento (p = 0,001). Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que los ejercicios resistidos deben ser incluidos en la prescripciĂłn de ejercicios de combate a la fatiga y en la mejorĂa de la fuerza muscular en mujeres con cáncer de mama sometidas a tratamiento.<br>The effects of generalized exercise programs to combat cancer and cancer treatment-related side effects have been extensively reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an individualized exercise program with emphasis on resistance exercise, changes in muscular strength and fatigue in breast cancer female patients under treatment. Twenty subjects were randomly divided in two groups: an experimental (57.5 ± 23.0 years) and a control (56.6 ± 16.0 years) group. A twenty-one week intervention involving pre- and post-functional assessments, prescriptive exercise, and three moments of fatigue measures was used. The experimental group exercised at a low to moderate-intensity for sixty minutes two days a week beginning after surgery. Significant differences in overall muscular strength were observed between groups post-intervention (p = 0.025). Fatigue was also significantly different between groups at treatment one (p = 0.001), treatment two (p = 0.005) and post-intervention (p = 0.001). The results of this study suggest that an emphasis on resistance training should be utilized to combat fatigue and to increase muscular strength in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment