Regular exercise has been found to have a positive impact on reducing pain and fatigue in women with advanced breast cancer, according to a new study presented at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Milan, Italy. The research revealed that patients experienced an improved quality of life after participating in a regular exercise program.
Anouk Hiensch, an assistant professor of epidemiology and health economics at University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands, emphasized the significance of offering exercise as part of the treatment regimen for patients with metastatic breast cancer. This is particularly crucial as many patients with metastatic cancer live longer due to continuous treatment but often report a deteriorating quality of life over time.
The study involved 357 patients with advanced breast cancer recruited from eight cancer centers across multiple countries. The participants, with an average age of 55, were randomly assigned to either a nine-month exercise program alongside their cancer therapy or to receive usual cancer care.
The exercise group engaged in a personalized training regimen, including resistance, aerobic, and balance exercises, twice a week, in addition to daily physical activity of at least 30 minutes. The researchers observed significant improvements in patients under the age of 50 and those experiencing higher levels of pain at the beginning of the study.
The study suggests that exercise may contribute to reducing inflammation, which could explain the observed improvements in pain and fatigue among the participants. As a result, the researchers recommend supervised exercise for all patients with metastatic breast cancer, particularly those experiencing pain, as part of their standard care.
Dr. Michail Ignatiadis, the chair of the European Breast Cancer Conference, hailed the findings as good news for patients with advanced breast cancer, indicating that they can potentially enjoy a better quality of life through regular exercise.
