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Comparative Study
. 2004 Sep;36(9):1484-91.

Physical activity levels among breast cancer survivors

Melinda L Irwin  1 , Anne McTiernan, Leslie Bernstein, Frank D Gilliland, Richard Baumgartner, Kathy Baumgartner, Rachel Ballard-Barbash
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Physical activity levels among breast cancer survivors

Melinda L Irwin et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and weight gain are negative prognostic factors for breast cancer survival. Physical activity (PA) prevents weight gain and may decrease obesity. Little information exists on PA levels among cancer survivors. We assessed PA, including the proportion of breast cancer survivors engaging in recommended levels, by categories of adiposity, age, disease stage, and ethnicity in 806 women with stage 0-IIIA breast cancer participating in the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle Study.

Methods: Black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic breast cancer survivors were recruited into the study through Surveillance Epidemiology End Results registries in New Mexico, Western Washington, and Los Angeles County, CA. Types of sports and household activities and their frequency and duration within the third yr after diagnosis were assessed during an in-person interview.

Results: Thirty-two percent of breast cancer survivors participated in recommended levels of PA defined as 150 min x wk(-1) of moderate- to vigorous-intensity sports/recreational PA. When moderate-intensity household and gardening activities were included in the definition, 73% met the recommended level of PA. Fewer obese breast cancer survivors met the recommendation than overweight and lean breast cancer survivors (P < 0.05). Fewer black breast cancer survivors met the recommendation compared with non-Hispanic white and Hispanic breast cancer survivors (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Most of the breast cancer survivors were not meeting the PA recommendations proposed for the general adult population. Efforts to encourage and facilitate PA among these women would be an important tool to decrease obesity, prevent postdiagnosis weight gain, and improve breast cancer prognosis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adjusted1 mean moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity levels (hrs/week) across the breast cancer experience by BMI (N = 547). (Western Washington and New Mexico breast cancer survivors only.) 1Adjusted for age, disease stage, ethnicity, study site, season, and interviewer; *significantly different from year before diagnosis (only for BMI < 25 and BMI between 25–29.9), p < .05; Φ significantly different from within 3rd year post-diagnosis (only for BMI < 25 and BMI between 25–29.9), p < .05
Figure 2
Figure 2
Adjusted mean sports/recreational physical activity levels (hrs/week) across the breast cancer experience by BMI (N = 547). (Western Washington and New Mexico breast cancer survivors only.) 1Adjusted for age, disease stage, ethnicity, study site, season, and interviewer; *significantly different from year before diagnosis, p < .05; Φ significantly different from within 3rd year post-diagnosis, p < .05
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