Print
Physical activity may prevent chemotherapy-related cognitive decline in women with breast cancer
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/activity-helps-prevent-cognitive-decline
Full article: https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.20.03514?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed
Many people experience chemo brain or chemo fog (cognitive effects) during and after chemotherapy. Researchers looked at the impact of physical activity on chemotherapy-related decline in memory, attention and information processing in women with breast cancer. This study shows that more physical activity before and during chemotherapy is linked to better information processing after chemotherapy. (Posted 1/6/22)
Este artículo está disponible en español.
Expert Guidelines
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Cancer Society have recommendations for physical activity for cancer survivors:
- Physical activity and exercise recommendations should be tailored to each person's abilities and preferences.
- People should try to engage in some physical activity daily; this may include:
- taking the stairs.
- walking more.
- Each week, people should try to achieve the following:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, with an ideal goal of 300 minutes, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of the two.
- Two to three sessions of strength/resistance training that include all of the major muscle groups (chest, shoulders, arms, back, core and legs).
- Stretch major muscle groups at least two days per week.
- Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods and other prolonged sedentary behavior.
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- I’ve been recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Will I benefit from increased physical activity?
- Should I exercise while receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer?
- What is the recommended amount of exercise for people undergoing chemotherapy?
- Should I report any cognitive changes during my chemotherapy treatment?
- Other than exercise, what else can I do to prevent chemotherapy-related cognitive decline?
Open Clinical Trials
The following studies are looking at management of side effects:
Multiple cancers
Breast cancer
Colorectal cancer
Endometrial cancer
Ovarian cancer
- NCT04533763: Living WELL: A Web-Based Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors. This studies a group-based and web-delivered tool for ovarian cancer survivors in increasing quality of life and decreasing stress, depressive mood, anxiety, and fatigue across a 12-month period.
- NCT05047926: Prehabilitation for Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients. Prehabilitation may improve peri-operative outcomes in patients undergoing cancer surgery. This study will look at structured activity for women undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy to improve their physical state prior to surgical intervention and thus improve outcomes.
Prostate cancer
The following are studies focused on exercise for people diagnosed with breast cancer.
Visit our Featured Research Page and Research Search and Enroll Tool to find additional studies enrolling people with, or at high risk for cancer.
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.