Fatigue and quality of life outcomes of exercise during cancer treatment

Purpose: Despite the recognition of fatigue as a common and distressing sym ptom during cancer treatment, there are few evidence-based interventions av ailable to manage such fatigue. The purpose of this multi-institutional pil ot study was to explore the effects of a home-based moderate walking exerci se intervention on fatigue, physical functioning, emotional distress, and q uality of life (QOL) during breast cancer treatment. Description of Study: Fifty-two women were recruited from five university h ospital outpatient departments for this pilot study with an experimental de sign. Subjects were randomly assigned to the walking program or to usual ca re during adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy for breast cancer. Sym ptoms, physical functioning, and QOL were measured at baseline, midtreatmen t, and at the end of the treatment. Results: Women who exercised at least 90 minutes per week on 3 or more days reported significantly less fatigue and emotional distress as well as high er functional ability and QOL than women who were less active during treatm ent. Clinical Implications: A home-based walking exercise program is a potential ly effective, low-cost, and safe intervention to manage fatigue and to impr ove QOL during adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy for brest cancer. This health-promoting self-care activity needs further testing in large ra ndomized clinical trials.