Supportive effekte eines moderaten ausdauertrainings während der zytotoxischen/endokrinen therapie von mammakarzinompatientinnen - Ergebnisse einer pilotstudie

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to assess the effects of a moderate exercise training regime on physical and psychological well-being, as well as on treatment-associated side effects in breast cancer patients during and after the cytotoxic/endocrine treatment. Patients and Methods: Health-related quality of life (using the SF-36 questionnaire), body weight and levels of hemoglobin before and after therapy together with treatment-associated side effects were separately assessed and compared for active and not active patients. 12 patients attended the training program, 17 patients exercised outside this program and 17 patients were not active. Results: During chemotherapy, a decrease of 17.3 of the total score for physical competence compared to baseline values was observed for not active patients vs. 8.9 for patients who got exercise (p = 0.01). A significant difference was also observable with regard to physical functioning (score reduction by 49.4 vs. 34.2, p = 0.01), vitality (score reduction by 18.2 vs. 14.4, p = 0.03) and role limitations due to emotional problems (score reduction by 47.0 vs. 14.7, p = 0.03). Compared to baseline values a decrease of hemoglobin levels was observed in all groups, but it was significantly higher in the group of not active patients (1.7 g/dl vs. 0.9 and 0.8g/dl respectively; p = 0.03). The incidence of fatigue was limited to gradel or 2 in patients who got some exercise, whereas grade 3 or 4 fatigue was observable in patients who were not active. Moreover a significant proportion of patients in the exercising group did not suffer from fatigue at all (p = 0.01). Conclusions: A moderate physical activity program is appropriate to improve the general quality of life as well as to alleviate fatigue syndrome in breast cancer patients.