Psychophysical health status of breast cancer survivors and effects of 12 weeks of aerobic training

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2017 May:27:19-26. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2017.01.004. Epub 2017 Jan 27.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyse the health status of breast cancer survivors and the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic training. Twenty-three breast cancer survivors (51.71 ± 3.17 years) and 23 healthy women (50.73 ± 2.97 years) were investigated for body composition, daily physical activity, quality of life, salivary cortisol, and DHEA-S. Breast cancer survivors were then aerobically trained for 12 weeks. Breast cancer survivors have a worse psychophysical health than healthy women. Aerobic training increased salivary DHEA-S, aerobic fitness, self-reported health, and nocturnal sleeping time and reduced salivary cortisol in breast cancer survivors. Salivary cortisol variation correlated with change of sleeping time and self-reported health. Salivary DHEA-S correlated with change of self-reported physical pain and general health as well. Breast cancer survivors can live in a situation of continuous distress, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Twelve weeks of aerobic training improve the psychophysical health of breast cancer survivors.

Keywords: Cortisol; DHEA-S; SF-36 questionnaire; Sedentary time.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms* / physiopathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / psychology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Exercise* / physiology
  • Exercise* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Middle Aged
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Survivors / psychology
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone