Introduction. African American breast cancer survivors engage in less physical activity compared with their Caucasian counterparts. There is a need for exercise intervention research that focuses on improving the overall health and longterm survivorship of African American breast cancer survivors, especially because they often have worse outcomes than Caucasian survivors. Study objectives were to determine whether African American participants increase physical activity and explore whether exercise had a positive impact on fitness and health. Methods. African American breast cancer survivors, stage 0 to IIIA, within 2 years of completing primary cancer treatments were recruited for a 16-week home-based aerobic and resistance training exercise pilot study. Outcome measures assessed at baseline and postintervention included physical activity questionnaires and accelerometry, cardiopulmonary function (VO 2peak ) with gas exchange, muscle strength, Selective Functional Movement Assessment, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans for body composition analysis. Assessments for fatigue and quality of life (QOL) were also completed at baseline and postintervention. Motivational interviewing was utilized to determine goals and explore exercise facilitators/barriers. Participants completed weekly exercise logs and received weekly phone calls. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to detect significant changes in physical activity and also changes in fitness/health parameters, fatigue, and QOL. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine relationships between physical activity and health measures. Results. A total of 17 women enrolled; 13 completed the intervention (76%). Mean age of the participants was 51 years. There was a significant increase in total minutes of weekly physical activity postintervention (M = 271 minutes, SD = 151; P = .001). Significant improvements were found in cardiopulmonary fitness as measured by VO 2peak with a mean increase of 2.03 mL/kg/min (P = .01). Several strength measures significantly increased and also functional movement (P = .005). Positive correlations existed between physical activity and several physical measures, with significant relationships between functional movement and some strength measures (eg, left arm extension: r s = 0.61, P = .002). Total QOL and fatigue scores improved, but neither was significant. Conclusions. The intervention led to increased physical activity. As a result of increased levels of physical activity, improvements on several fitness/health parameters occurred.

Little is known about relationships between a positive family history of breast cancer, perception of risk, and lifestyle behaviors. This qualitative study explored factors involved in formulation of perceived breast cancer risk and the association between risk perception and lifestyle behaviors in white and black women with a family history of breast cancer. Eligible participants were North Carolina residents in the Sister Study, a nationwide study of environmental and genetic risk factors for breast cancer among women aged 35 to 74 who have at least one sister diagnosed with breast cancer. Personal interviews were conducted with thirty-two women, twenty white and twelve black. While many had a heightened sense of risk and perceived family history as a main risk factor, 16% considered themselves at low or average risk for breast cancer and Gail risk scores did not correspond to perceived risk. Many women were unaware of associations between lifestyle behaviors and breast cancer risk. Eleven women, six black and five white, reported making healthy lifestyle changes because of family history; dietary change was most frequently reported. These findings may be important for future developers of breast cancer education programs for both white and black women with a family history of breast cancer.