Exercise before, during, and after Hospitalization for Allogeneic Hematological Stem Cell Transplant: A Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial.

People with cancer who undergo allogeneic hematological stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) experience significant deconditioning that can compromise quality of life. Exercise has shown to be beneficial before or after allo-HSCT; however, little is known about exercise therapy delivered across the continuum of care. We conducted a feasibility randomized controlled trial of exercise delivered prior to admission, during the inpatient stay, and after discharge versus control in people with planned allo-HSCT.

Multisystem Toxicity in Cancer: Lessons from NASA's Countermeasures Program.

Astronauts and cancer patients are subject to similar multisystem physiological toxicities. Over the past sixty years, NASA developed a state-of-the-art countermeasures program (CMP) to characterize and mitigate the physiological consequences of spaceflight. Here, we propose a NASA-modeled CMP to elucidate and abrogate physiological toxicities in patients with cancer.

The Cardiac Rehabilitation Model Improves Fitness, Quality of Life, and Depression in Breast Cancer Survivors.

Purpose: Exercise is a demonstrated, therapeutic strategy for cancer survivors to minimize many treatment-induced side effects and may decrease risk of recurrence. Nonetheless, structured programs that combine exercise and education are not yet standardized within cancer care. The Health, Exercise, Active Living, Therapeutic lifestyle (HEALTh) program is a clinical exercise program based on the established cardiac rehabilitation model, but customized for female breast cancer survivors.

Motivation for Different Types and Doses of Exercise During Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Exercise is beneficial for breast cancer patients during chemotherapy, but their motivation to perform different types and doses of exercise is unknown.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the anticipated and experienced motivation of breast cancer patients before and after three different exercise programs during chemotherapy.

Methods: Breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy (N = 301) were randomized to a standard dose of 25-30 min of aerobic exercise, a higher dose of 50-60 min of aerobic exercise, or a combined dose of 50-60 min of aerobic and resistance exercise.

Interval versus continuous aerobic exercise training in breast cancer survivors--a pilot RCT.

Background: Exercise therapy is being explored in a variety of cancer populations to counteract treatment-related deconditioning. Higher intensity interval protocols are being prescribed to improve physical function and attenuate surrogates of comorbidity in non-cancer populations. The purpose of this study is to explore the safety of higher intensity exercise stimuli on cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak) in breast cancer survivors.

Predictors of adherence to different types and doses of supervised exercise during breast cancer chemotherapy.

Background: Exercise is beneficial for breast cancer patients during chemotherapy but adherence to different types and doses of exercise is a challenge. The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of adherence to different types and doses of exercise during breast cancer chemotherapy in a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Breast cancer patients in Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa, Canada receiving chemotherapy (N = 301) were randomized to a standard dose of 25-30 minutes of aerobic exercise (STAN), a higher dose of 50-60 minutes of aerobic exercise (HIGH), or a higher dose of 50-60 minutes of combined aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB).

A multicenter randomized trial of the effects of exercise dose and type on psychosocial distress in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Background: Exercise may improve psychosocial distress in patients with cancer; however, few studies have examined the effects of different types or doses of exercise, or whether exercise effects are related to baseline depression levels.

Methods: In a multicenter trial in Canada, we randomized 301 patients with breast cancer initiating chemotherapy to thrice weekly, supervised exercise consisting of either a standard dose of 25 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (STAN; n = 96), a higher dose of 50 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise (HIGH; n = 101), or a combined dose of 50 to 60 minutes of aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB; n = 104). The primary endpoint was depression assessed by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale at baseline, twice during chemotherapy, and postchemotherapy.

Effects of exercise dose and type on sleep quality in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a multicenter randomized trial.

To examine the effects of different doses and types of exercise on sleep quality in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A multicenter trial in Canada randomized 301 breast cancer patients between 2008 and 2011 to thrice weekly, supervised exercise during chemotherapy consisting of either a standard dose of 25-30 min of aerobic exercise (STAN; n = 96), a higher dose of 50-60 min of aerobic exercise (HIGH; n = 101), or a combined dose of 50-60 min of aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB; n = 104). The secondary sleep outcomes in the trial were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline, twice during chemotherapy, and postchemotherapy.

Effects of exercise dose and type during breast cancer chemotherapy: multicenter randomized trial.

Background: Exercise improves physical functioning and symptom management during breast cancer chemotherapy, but the effects of different doses and types of exercise are unknown.

Methods: A multicenter trial in Canada randomized 301 breast cancer patients to thrice-weekly supervised exercise during chemotherapy consisting of either a standard dose of 25 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (STAN; n = 96), a higher dose of 50 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise (HIGH; n = 101), or a combined dose of 50 to 60 minutes of aerobic and resistance exercise (COMB; n = 104). The primary endpoint was physical functioning assessed by the Medical Outcomes Survey-Short Form (SF)-36.

Optimal mode for maximal aerobic exercise testing in breast cancer survivors.

Purpose: To determine which mode of exercise is preferred by breast cancer survivors and to evaluate this response between graded exercise testing on a treadmill and on a cycle ergometer.

Methods: Twelve breast cancer survivors completed 2 maximal aerobic stress tests on separate days. The women completed a ramp protocol on an electronically braked cycle ergometer and an incremental step protocol on a treadmill to volitional fatigue.

Hemoglobin and aerobic fitness changes with supervised exercise training in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Background: Aerobic exercise training (AET) is known to increase RBC production; however, this has not been evaluated in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the Supervised Trial of Aerobic versus Resistance Training (START) and to determine its association with changes in VO(2peak).

Methods: Two hundred and forty-two breast cancer patients initiating chemotherapy were randomized to usual care (n = 82), resistance exercise (RET, n = 82), or AET (n = 78) groups for the duration of their chemotherapy (median, 17 weeks).

Is there enhanced lymphatic function in upper body trained females?

Background: Chronic physical activity results in adaptations in many aspects of human physiology, while specific training can directly influence structural changes. It remains unknown if habitual exercise influences upper extremity lymphatic function in females; thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare different exercise stresses on lymphatic function in ten upper body trained females with ten untrained females.

Methods And Results: Participants underwent a maximal upper body aerobic test on an arm crank ergometer before undergoing three randomly assigned lymphatic stress tests.

Upper extremity lymphatic function at rest and during exercise in breast cancer survivors with and without lymphedema compared with healthy controls.

Lymphoscintigraphy was used to measure lymphatic function at rest and during exercise in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema (BCRL, n = 10), breast cancer survivors (BC, n = 10), and controls (Cont, n = 10). After injection of (99m)Tc-antimony colloid to the hands, subjects rested or performed 12 repeated sets of arm cranking for 2.5 min at 0.