Physical exercise can help reduce pain and improve quality of life of patients with metastatic breast cancer according to a new study that will be presented on Wednesday (20), at the 14th European Conference on Breast Cancer, taking place in Milan, Italy.
According to researchers, patients of all ages benefited from the exercises, but the improvement was most evident in women under 50. However, they say the study's findings provide strong evidence that physical exercise should be part of metastatic breast cancer treatment.
“While there has been a lot of research on exercise for people with early-stage cancer, we have seen little research on exercise in patients with more advanced disease,” says Anouk Hiensch of University Medical Center Utrecht, In Holland. The researcher will present the research at the conference in Milan.
Metastatic breast cancer happens when the tumor spreads to other organs in the body, such as the lungs, liver, brain and bones. It is more common in advanced stages of cancer and when the tumor is diagnosed late.
“Patients with metastatic cancer often undergo continuous treatment aimed at prolonging their lives. Thanks to these treatments, many patients with metastasis live longer, but many also report a deterioration in quality of life over time. Therefore, we need supportive care strategies, such as exercise, that improve the lives of these patients”, he adds.
How was the study carried out?
The study included 357 patients with metastatic breast cancer with an average age of around 55 years. Participants were recruited from one of eight cancer centers in Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia.
Of these, 178 were randomly selected to participate in a nine-month exercise program, along with usual care, and another 179 continued with conventional treatment.
The exercise program consisted of personalized training done twice a week, including resistance, aerobic and balance exercises. All training was supervised by a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist.
Patients in both groups were encouraged to practice physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day and received activity trackers.
Throughout the study, researchers asked patients about their fatigue levels and quality of life, including symptoms such as pain. The questionnaire was answered at the beginning of the study and after three, six and nine months.
Overall, the study found that patients who participated in the exercise program suffered less fatigue and had a better quality of life . The best results were observed in women under 50 years of age and in those who suffered from pain at the beginning of the study.
“Based on these findings, we recommend supervised exercise for all patients with metastatic breast cancer – particularly those who experience pain – as part of their standard care. Older patients also benefited from exercise; however, the program may require some additional adjustments to benefit younger patients as much as possible,” says Hiensch.
However, researchers warn: before starting any physical activity during breast cancer treatment, it is It is essential to talk to your doctor and look for an exercise instructor to guide you.
“We don't know exactly why exercise helps cancer patients suffering from pain, but we think it may be because exercise reduces inflammation. We collected blood samples from our study participants and studying these samples can tell us more”, he concludes.
Source: CNN Brasil

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