Physical activity levels among breast cancer survivors

Melinda Irwin

Anne McTiernan

Leslie Bernstein

Frank Gilliland

Richard Baumgartner

Kathy Baumgartner

Rachel Ballard-Barbash

^{Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT}

^{The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA}

^{Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA}

^{University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico}

^{Applied Research Program, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland}

DIRECT CORRESPONDENCE TO: Melinda L. Irwin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale School of Medicine, P.O. Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06520-8034, PHONE: (203) 785-6392 FAX: (203) 785-6279, ude.elay@niwri.adnilem

Abstract

Introduction

Obesity and weight gain are negative prognostic factors for breast cancer survival. Physical activity (PA) prevents weight gain and may decrease obesity. Little information exists on PA levels among cancer survivors. We assessed PA, including the proportion of breast cancer survivors engaging in recommended levels, by categories of adiposity, age, disease stage, and ethnicity in 806 women with Stage 0–IIIA breast cancer participating in the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Study.

Methods

Black, non-Hispanic White, and Hispanic breast cancer survivors were recruited into the study through Surveillance Epidemiology End Results registries in New Mexico, Western Washington, and Los Angeles County, California. Types of sports and household activities and their frequency and duration within the third year after diagnosis were assessed during an in-person interview.

Results

Thirty-two percent of breast cancer survivors participated in recommended levels of PA defined as 150 min/week of moderate- to vigorous-intensity sports/recreational PA. When moderate-intensity household and gardening activities were included in the definition, 73% met the recommended level of PA. Fewer obese breast cancer survivors met the recommendation than overweight and lean breast cancer survivors (p < .05). Fewer Black breast cancer survivors met the recommendation compared to non-Hispanic White and Hispanic breast cancer survivors (p < .05).

Conclusions

Most of the breast cancer survivors were not meeting the PA recommendations proposed for the general adult population. Efforts to encourage and facilitate PA among these women would be an important tool to decrease obesity, prevent post-diagnosis weight gain, and improve breast cancer prognosis.

Keywords: exercise, fitness, patient, treatment, weight, race

Abstract

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