Do Breast Cancer Survivors Increase Their Physical Activity and Enhance Their Health-Related Quality of Life After Attending Community-Based Wellness Workshops?

Abstract

Many breast cancer survivors may be at increased risk for physical and psychological complications from cancer treatments. Research has shown that regular exercise can help ameliorate some of the lingering side effects of breast cancer treatments and improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Additionally, certain stress management techniques have helped increase HRQOL in breast cancer survivors. Few educational programs exist which address both the promotion of physical activity and use of mindfulness-based strategies to improve the health of breast cancer survivors. Community-based wellness workshops were designed to promote regular exercise and use of mindfulness-based techniques. There was an increase in physical activity and improvements on several HRQOL domains 1 month following the exercise workshops; although the results were not significant, they are encouraging.

Perceived Exercise Barriers and Facilitators Among Ethnically Diverse Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Some women also were in active treatment and their exercise perceptions may have been different than if they had completed treatment. However, as previously reported elsewhere, physical activity behavior between those who completed treatment and those in active treatment was not significantly different (Spector et al, 2012).…”

“…Workshops were conducted in collaboration with community partners who addressed needs of breast cancer survivors. The format and design of the workshops have been previously described (Spector, Battaglini, Alsobrooks, Owens, & Groff, 2012). Breast cancer survivors were recruited through word-of-mouth, flyers, e-mails, and news releases from partner orga-nizations (e.g., community cancer centers, local health departments).…”

Rationale for Promoting Physical Activity Among Cancer Survivors: Literature Review and Epidemiologic Examination

“…Evidence exists among older colorectal cancer survivors that participating in physical activity in a social setting may be particularly important for improving or maintaining mental health (Thraen-Borowski, Trentham-Dietz, Edwards, Koltyn, & Colbert, 2013), with the act of attending community-based wellness workshops also likely to have beneficial effects on physical activity and health-related quality of life (Spector, Battaglini, Alsobrooks, Owen, & Groff, 2012). Proper physical activity promotion among older adult cancer survivors appears to be safe and feasible (Klepin, Mohile, & Mihalko, 2013;Rajotte et al, 2012), with findings, although limited, also showing that physical activity may be safe and effective among patients with advanced-stage cancer (Albrecht & Taylor, 2012).…”

Effect of Aquatic Exercise on Fatigue, Fitness, Arm Edema, Levels of Distress, and Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors

“…Exercise, in general, reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and death among cancer survivors, increases physical functioning among cancer survivors, and facilitates positive psychosocial benefits in cancer survivors during and after treatment (Speck, et al, 2010;Spector et al, 2012;Warburton, et al, 2006). As the quality of a breast cancer survivor's life is affected by physiological and psychosocial factors, we believe the improvement of physical health factors combined with the group engagement that occurs during aquatic exercise contributes to the enhancement of quality of life.…”