Exercise has benefits for women with breast cancer

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Group exercise leads to significant improvements in quality of life for women with early breast cancer.
Treatment for breast cancer, and coping with the diagnosis, can have an adverse impact upon quality of life. Rehabilitation generally focuses on psychosocial support and the potential benefits of exercise during cancer treatment are not well explored.

Researchers in Scotland divided a group of over 200 women being treated for early stage breast cancer into two separate groups. One had usual care and the other took part in two supervised group exercise sessions a week plus an extra one at home. Their quality of life was measured after 12 weeks and six months. Those in the exercise group had better physical and psychological quality of life at both assessment points. They also made fewer doctor visits and spent fewer nights in hospital. It is not clear whether the benefits come from the group experience or the exercise itself. But the findings do suggest that it is worthwhile encouraging physical exercise among women who are being treated for early stage breast cancer.

Source
BMJ Online First 15th February 2007

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