Breast Cancer Rehabilitation Program in Improving Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors

• Ability to recruit breast cancer survivors into a six-month breast cancer rehabilitation program [ Time Frame: Approximately 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• BMI [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Muscular strength [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Range of motion [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Quality of life [ Time Frame: 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of screened women who are eligible for the study and the proportion of eligible women who agree to participate [ Time Frame: Approximately 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of women who complete the study and the average number of weeks of participation [ Time Frame: Approximately 24 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

• Ability to recruit breast cancer survivors into a six-month breast cancer rehabilitation program [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• BMI [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Muscular strength [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Range of motion [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Quality of life [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of screened women who are eligible for the study and the proportion of eligible women who agree to participate [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Proportion of women who complete the study and the average number of weeks of participation [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Weight loss [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Six-minute walk [ Time Frame: At baseline and 3 and 6 months ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

RATIONALE: A breast cancer rehabilitation program and exercise therapy may help improve the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies a breast cancer rehabilitation program in improving quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To estimate accrual, retention, adherence, and participation of breast cancer survivors to a breast cancer rehabilitation program.

II. To estimate the variability of weight, six-minute walk, quality of life and other psychosocial and physical measures in women participating in the BCRP.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess changes in the anthropometric, psychosocial, and physical outcomes over the six-month period of the BCRP.

II. To document the types and the rates of adverse events associated with the BCRP.

OUTLINE:

Patients attend exercise therapy sessions over 1 hour 3 times a week for 6 months. Exercise therapy sessions are comprised of a 10 minute warm-up of light stretching and aerobic type exercise (walking, cycling), 30 minutes of endurance type exercise (cycle, walking), and 20 minutes of resistance training exercise.

• Stage I Breast Cancer
• Stage II Breast Cancer
• Stage IIIA Breast Cancer
• Stage IIIB Breast Cancer
• Stage IIIC Breast Cancer
• Stage IV Breast Cancer

• Other: questionnaire administration
• Behavioral: exercise intervention
• Procedure: quality-of-life assessment
  Other Name: quality of life assessment
• Other: survey administration
• Procedure: management of therapy complications
  Other Name: complications of therapy, management of
• Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care
  Other Names:

  • psychosocial assessment
  • psychosocial assessment/care
  • psychosocial care
  • psychosocial care/assessment
  • psychosocial studies
  • psychosocial support

Inclusion

• First occurrence of breast cancer
• BMI >= 25
• Recently completed treatment(chemotherapy/radiation) for breast cancer (=< 8 weeks), but can be receiving adjuvant hormonal therapy
• Willing to comply with study visits, as outlined in the protocol
• Lives within 30 miles of study site, or willing to travel to study site if outside a 30-mile radius
• Ability to participate in a moderate exercise program, such as freedom from any orthopedic abnormalities that would prevent participation
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion

• Unstable angina
• Cardiac conduction disturbances
• Plans to move from the study area
• Dementia that is medically documented or suspected
• Advanced arterial disease causing ischemia of any limb
• Physical immobility
• Homebound for medical reasons
• Dependent on wheelchair for mobility
• Chronic disease which significantly reduces 4-year survival
• Recurrent breast cancer