Yoga-based exercise has proven to be beneficial for practitioners, including cancer survivors. This study reports on the effect on inflammatory biological markers for 20 breast cancer survivors who participated in a six-month yoga-based (YE) exercise program. Results are compared to a comprehensive exercise (CE) program group and a comparison (C) exercise group who chose their own exercises.“Pre” and “post” assessments included measures of anthropometrics, cardiorespiratory capacity, and inflammatory markers interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Descriptive statistics, effect size (d), and dependent sample ‘t’ tests for all outcome measures were calculated for the YE group.Significant improvements were seen in decreased % body fat, (−3.00%, d = −0.44, p = <.001) but not in cardiorespiratory capacity or in inflammatory serum markers. To compare YE outcomes with the other two groups, a one-way analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) was used, controlling for age, BMI, cardiorespiratory capacity and serum marker baseline values. We found no differences between groups. Moreover, we did not see significant changes in any inflammatory marker for any group.Our results support the effectiveness of yoga-based exercise modified for breast cancer survivors for improving body composition. Larger studies are needed to determine if there are significant changes in inflammatory serum markers as a result of specific exercise modalities.

Purpose Reduced stress and reduced risk of cancer recurrence are among the many benefits of physical activity (PA) for cancer survivors. Exercise behaviors are linked to motivational factors. We investigated the associations between motivational profile, self-reported levels of PA and stress and mental functioning in 94 post-treatment breast cancer survivors who voluntarily enrolled in an exercise program. Methods Participants completed Apter Motivational Style Profile (AMSP), Life Time of Physical Activity (LTPA) Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Medical Outcomes Short Form SF-36® (SF-36), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and provided 10 saliva specimens (to measure cortisol levels). PA levels were calculated in metabolic equivalent hours per week (MET-hrs/wk). Results Participants reported high levels of current and historical PA (M = 39.2 MET-hrs/wk, SD = 39.7; M = 14.2 MET-hrs/wk, SD = 15.4, respectively). They also reported high levels of stress (M = 33.6, SD = 4.5) coupled with low mental functionality as measured by SF-36 Mental Components Scale (MCS) (M = 44.4, SD = 8.8). PSS was negatively associated with MCS (r = −0.27, p = 0.009). Salivary cortisol was not associated with any measure. Participants had a conformist (“follow rules”) and alloic (“about others”) motivational profile. No motivational, exercise history or stress variables were associated with current PA. Conclusions As expected, participants reported higher levels of stress and lower mental functioning. Participants presented a unique motivational profile relative to the general population. Further research into the associations of motivation, exercise behaviors and stress are warranted.

PurposePhysical activity (PA) has a myriad of benefits for breast cancer survivors, including a reduced risk of cancer recurrence. Latinas are less physically active than are women in the general population and little is known about Latina breast cancer survivors’ levels of PA or their beliefs related to PA. We conducted a survey of 50 Puerto Rican (PR), 50 Mexican-American (MA) and 50 non-Hispanic white (NHW) breast cancer survivors to investigate similarities and differences in PA and social cognitive theory (SCT) constructs associated with PA.Methods We collected information on current PA using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ); comorbidities; anthropometric measures of body mass index [BMI (kg/m2)] and waist-to-hip (W:H) ratio; and SCT measures, including exercise self-efficacy, exercise barriers self-efficacy, modeling and social support from friends and family. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance of differences between groups and regression models of the predictors of PA were performed.ResultsSurvivors from the three groups were similar in age (M = 56.8, SD = 11.0), BMI (M = 29.0, SD = 5.7) and co-morbidity (M = 2.09, SD = 1.69). Survivors differed in PA (p < 0.001), self-efficacy (p = 0.05), modeling (p = 0.03) and social support from family (p = 0.05). Social support from family member and exercise barriers self-efficacy were predictors of PA.Conclusions Consistent with published studies, Hispanic breast cancer survivors self-report that they are less physically active than are non-Hispanic whites. SCT variables associated with PA differ among Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic whites. Further research is warranted in order to understand determinants of physical activity for specific ethnic breast cancer survivors.

Introduction: Obesity has reached pandemic levels in the highly Hispanic populated South Texas-Mexico Rio Grande Valley (RGV) which also has the highest levels of physical inactivity in the country. Mexican-American women are less active than non-Hispanic white women, moreover many breast cancer survivors who were not previously active will stay inactive; and those who were active often do not return to their previous level of activity. Indeed, up to 80% of breast cancer survivors do not meet the current physical activity guidelines, and for Hispanic women this number is likely higher. Furthermore, breast cancer is still the leading cause of death among cancers within Hispanic women. The benefits of being physically active and leaner for breast cancer survivors include reduced risk for recurrence as well as benefits of weight management, improved physical and emotional well-being, reduced risk for chronic diseases, and second primary cancers. Thus promoting exercise behaviors for Hispanic breast cancer survivors is an important endeavor. Identifying the variables associated with increased exercise adoption is needed to address the negative consequences of an inactive lifestyle on survivorship and stem the alarmingly increasing obesity tide. Here we employed a Social Cognitive Theory-based model to investigate variables affecting beliefs in overcoming barriers to exercise specific to Mexican-American breast cancer survivors living in the South Texas-Mexico RGV community. Methods: We employed a Social Cognitive Theory-based survey on 38 post-treatment breast cancer survivors who had agreed to participate in a 16-week exercise intervention. After assessment of physical fitness, participants completed a psycho-social questionnaire that included questions of a bi-level acculturation scale (BASH) and SCT-based variables of barriers to exercise self-efficacy (BSE), modeling of exercise (MOD), social support for exercise from friends (SSFR) and family (SSFA) and self-identification as an exerciser (SIE). We conducted a predictive model of BSE as the dependent variable and MOD, SSFR, SSFA and SIE as predictor variables. For any significant predictor variables, we then conducted a mediation analyses on the interaction of BASH on effect to BSE. Results: Baseline data confirmed that our population was obese (average BMI = 30.7; average body fat = 39.3%) coupled with very poor physical fitness (average cardiorespiratory [VO2] = 18.8 mlO2/kg/min). From a range of scores of 1= “not all confident” to 5 = “extremely confident”, participants reported a low level of BSE (M = 2.61). Participants reported a moderate amount of modeling (M = 3.19, possible range 0-8). For a possible range of 0 = “none” to 5 = “very often”, participants reported some SSFR (M=2.02) and slightly more from SSFA (M=2.43). SIE (M= 3.78) with a possible range of 0 = “do not see myself as an exerciser” to 6 = “very much see myself as an exerciser” was the only predictor of BSE (β = 0.50, p = .002) which was not mediated by acculturation level (% mediation &lt; 0.10%). Conclusions: As expected, our Mexican-American participants were mostly obese and with poor fitness. Surprisingly only one variable was predictive of BSE for our participants which was a single item instrument that asked the participant how much they saw themselves as an exerciser. Not discounting previous studies that have found modeling of exercise behaviors and social support from significant others as conducive to promoting exercise confidence; our study suggests the importance of self-perception as an exerciser. Our study also suggests the importance of promoting this perception in our Hispanic breast cancer population which may be characterized by obesity and poor physical fitness. Citation Format: Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker, Sonio D. Garcia, Laura Treviño, Ruth Morris, Gabriela A. Villanueva, Amelie G. Ramirez, Daniel C. Hughes. Promoting exercise in Hispanic cancer survivors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B30.

Background: One of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities (CRCHD) Transdisciplinary Geographical Management of Cancer Health Disparities Program (GMAP) focuses is to connect underrepresented communities with research, training and outreach efforts. GMaP Region 4 composed of 9 states (Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas Utah and Wyoming), developed Clinical Trials Outreach for Latinos (CTOL) and educational module to help close the gap of clinical trial and biospecimen information within our minority community. Although clinical trials are operational in some of our sites, the overall number of eligible clinical trial participants per site is much higher than the number of actual participants in clinical trials. Drawing on the Region 4 Implementation Plan, which identified the need for CT accrual especially among low income English- and Spanish-speaking Latinos, we developed an intervention to test a CT education and outreach project in at least five different sites in Region 4. CTOL Program Purpose: Increase Latinos' informed decision-making about joining clinical trials and donating biospecimens.Highlight the importance of participating in trials and donating biospecimens.Discuss risks and benefits of participation in trials and donating biospecimens.Provide resources for available local and national trials and biobanks. Methodology: The CTOL involved the design and testing of a pilot CT education program through focus groups to implementation of the module. The project coordinator/health educator identified community organizations to the introduce CTOL and arranged for the educational sessions. The outreach strategy was to conduct a 20 to 30 minute session “piggy backed” into regularly scheduled group meetings. Prior to the presentation participants were asked to provide demographic information in a sign-in sheet. The presentations contained 4 pre-evaluation questions in which participants were asked to raise their hand if they agreed with the statement. After the session, participants asked questions and then answered several post-evaluation questions. Results: Seventy-two education sessions were conducted at five sites: 1) The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 2) New Mexico State University, 3) University of Arizona Cancer Center, 4) Good Samaritan Hospital (NE), and 5) Penrose Cancer Center (CO). The GMaP program in Region 4 included over 1200 participants in 12 different cities in 5 states (AZ, CO, NE, NM, and TX). Participants represented 155 different zip codes with the majority being Hispanic white females. At the beginning of the sessions, about 60% had heard about clinical trials however not many people really understood how they worked (33%) and fewer people neither understood nor knew about biospecimens or biobanks (17%). At the end of the sessions most participants gained knowledge about clinical trials and biospecimens with most post questions receiving over 80% “yes” responses. Sixty percent indicated they would be interested in future participation in clinical trials and biospecimen collection. Conclusions: Tailoring the form, content and delivery of education materials to an intended audience are essential for an effective program or intervention. We found that participants were not very informed about clinical trials or biospecimens but indicated that their knowledge and attitudes towards these issues increased or improved after exposure to our CTOL. Based on our findings we continued to refine the program and created “The Clinical Trials Outreach for Latinos: Program Replication Manual”, which we believe could assist other communities and stakeholders to disseminate this information and program in their own communities. Citation Format: Rose A. Treviño-Whitaker, Amelie G. Ramirez, Kipling Gallion, Mary O'Connell. GMaP Region 4 clinical trials outreach for Latinos. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A39.