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Multicenter Study
. 2017 Apr 1;123(7):1249-1258.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.30456. Epub 2016 Nov 28.

Effect of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA exercise program on physical activity, fitness, quality of life, and fatigue in cancer survivors

Melinda L Irwin  1   2 , Brenda Cartmel  1   2 , Maura Harrigan  1 , Fangyong Li  1 , Tara Sanft  1   2 , Laura Shockro  3 , Keelin O'Connor  3 , Nancy Campbell  3 , Sara M Tolaney  3 , Erica L Mayer  3 , Rachel Yung  3 , Rachel A Freedman  3 , Ann H Partridge  3 , Jennifer A Ligibel  3
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Effect of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA exercise program on physical activity, fitness, quality of life, and fatigue in cancer survivors

Melinda L Irwin et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) has been linked to a lower risk of developing and dying of cancer, yet many cancer survivors do not exercise. In the current study, the authors evaluated the impact of the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA exercise program, available at Young Men's Christian Associations (YMCAs) across the United States, on PA, fitness, quality of life, fatigue, body composition, serum biomarkers, and program safety in cancer survivors.

Methods: Cancer survivors were recruited through the Yale Cancer Center and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and randomized to a 12-week, twice-weekly LIVESTRONG at the YMCA exercise program at YMCAs in Connecticut or Massachusetts or to a control group. Questionnaires, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scans, 6-minute walk tests (6MWTs), and a fasting blood draw were completed at baseline and at 12 weeks. Intervention effects were evaluated using mixed model repeated measures analysis, with changes at 12 weeks in PA and 6MWT as the primary endpoints.

Results: A total of 186 participants were randomized (95 to the exercise group and 91 to the control group). The majority of patients were diagnosed with AJCC stage I to II cancer and 53% had breast cancer. Participants randomized to the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program experienced increases in PA (71% exercising at ≥ 150 minutes/week vs 26% of controls; P<.05) and improvements in the 6MWT (group difference: 28.9 meters [95% confidence interval, 0.3-49.0; P = .004]) and quality of life (group difference: 2.6 [95% confidence interval, 0.1-5.0; P = .04]). No adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: The LIVESTRONG at the YMCA exercise program has the potential to impact thousands of survivors across the YMCA network and could lead to improvements in disease and psychosocial outcomes in the growing population of cancer survivors. Cancer 2017;123:1249-1258. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Keywords: cancer; fatigue; obesity; physical activity; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow of participants through the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Study
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent meeting physical activity recommendations at baseline and 3 months *p<.05
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change in FACT-G and Fatigue from baseline to 3 months by attendance to LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Sessions *p<0.05 **N=27 completed < 20 sessions; N=54 completed ≥ 20 sessions
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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