2013-10-30 09:22:54
Most people are well aware of the benefits of maintaining a healthy weight and regular exercise in general terms, however most are not aware of its impact with respect to cancer. For instance, few people are aware that regular physical activity lowers the risk of recurrence after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. (1) Newer evidence is showing that cancer therapies such as radiation of the breast may result in damage to the heart underneath, leading to increased risk of heart disease down the road in patients who are breast cancer survivors. (2) Reducing risk factors for heart disease, such as being overweight and being inactive, are especially important in these women. Finally, physical activity may also be related to quality of life in patients who are breast cancer survivors.
A new study examined the impact of obesity and physical activity on the health and wellbeing of patients with breast cancer who had completed adjuvant therapy. (3) A total of 537 women aged 35 to 68 years with newly-diagnosed breast cancer were enrolled into an exercise intervention study. Researchers investigated the effect of exercise on patients’ physical performance (2-km walking test), cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life, co-morbidities and body-mass index (BMI). Overall, 191 (39%) patients were overweight and 85 (17%) obese, defined as BMI equal to or greater than 30. The study found that higher BMI (ie. being overweight) increased the women’s risk of having poor ability for physical performance (walking 2 km), poor quality of life, and increased risk factors for heart disease, including cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Researchers concluded that obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are important factors to be addressed in breast cancer survivors, since they lead to impaired quality of life, impaired ability to exercise, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease in these women. (3)
References
1. Pierce JP, Stefanick ML, Flatt SW, Natarajan L, Sternfeld B, Madlensky L, Al-Delaimy WK, Thomson CA, Kealey S, Hajek R, Parker BA, Newman VA, Caan B, Rock CL. Greater survival after breast cancer in physically active women with high vegetable-fruit intake regardless of obesity. J Clin Oncol. 2007;25(17):2345-51.
2. Tjessem KH, Johansen S, Malinen E, Reinertsen KV, Danielsen T, Fosså SD, Fosså A. Long-term cardiac mortality after hypofractionated radiation therapy in breast cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2013;87(2):337-43.
3. Elme A, Utriainen M, Kellokumpu-Lehtinen P, Palva T, Luoto R, Nikander R, Huovinen R, Kautiainen H, Järvenpää S, Penttinen HM, Vehmanen L, Jääskeläinen AS, Ruohola J, Blomqvist C, Saarto T. Obesity and physical inactivity are related to impaired physical health of breast cancer survivors. Anticancer Res. 2013;33(4):1595-602.