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Impact of Six Months of Three Different Modalities of Exercise on Stress in Post-Treatment Breast Cancer Survivors
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Impact of Six Months of Three Different Modalities of Exercise on Stress in Post-Treatment Breast Cancer Survivors

Daniel C. Hughes, Jessica Gorzelitz, Alexis Ortiz, Lorenzo Cohen, Dorothy Long Parma, Terri Boggess, Nydia Tijerina Darby, Shragvi Balaji and Amelie G. Ramirez
Cancers, Vol.16(19), 3398
10/04/2024
DOI: 10.3390/cancers16193398
PMCID: PMC11475836
PMID: 39410018
url
https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16193398View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Extensive evidence suggests that exercise is physically and mentally beneficial for cancer survivors. This study reports on changes in self-reported stress, physiological biomarkers for stress (salivary cortisol), and HR-QOL constructs for fifty breast cancer survivors participating in one of three different exercise programs over 6 months. Methods: Fifty post-treatment breast cancer survivors were randomized to either therapeutic yoga-based exercise (YE), comprehensive exercise (CE) (aerobic, resistance, flexibility), or choosing (C) their own exercise activities. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36® (SF-36), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Five samples of salivary cortisol were collected on two consecutive days. The 10 samples were used to calculate the diurnal rhythm slope. Outcome measures were repeated after six months. Results: All groups improved in HR-QOL measures of PSS; PSQI sleep quality components of latency and daytime functioning; and five of the ten SF-36 scales (Mental Component Scale, Social Functioning subscale, Mental Health subscale, Physical Component Scale, Physical Functioning subscale). Although the CE group observed the most favorable change in cortisol (−0.183), where cortisol slope changes approached significance (p = 0.057), but no significant decrease in cortisol between groups were noted. Conclusion: Our results suggest that it is the engagement of, rather than the specific type of exercise, which is associated with improved HR-QOL. However, longer-term studies with better adherence monitoring and larger sample sizes are needed to better determine clinical impact.
cortisol stress exercise yoga breast cancer

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