Study: Gardening improves health outcomes for breast cancer patients
Contents
At a glance | Guidelines |
Findings | In-depth |
Clinical trials | Limitations |
Questions for your doctor | Resources |
STUDY AT A GLANCE
This study is about:
Whether gardening can improve health behaviors and outcomes among breast cancer survivors.
Why is this study important?
The American Cancer Society recommends cancer survivors eat at least 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables and get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. However, most breast cancer survivors do not follow these recommendations.
Study findings:
From August 2013 to May 2014, 82 breast cancer survivors in the greater Birmingham, Alabama area were invited to participate in the study. They were randomly assigned either to a 1-year mentored gardening intervention group or to a wait-list control group.
Participants in the gardening arm were paired with an Alabama Cooperative Extension System-certified Master Gardener (MG). MGs met bimonthly with participants to mentor them in planning, planting and maintaining 3 seasons of home-based vegetable gardens over the course of 1 year.
The trial surpassed all benchmarks:
- 95% of participants remained in the study.
- All participants in the gardening group (42) rated their experience as “good to excellent” and reported that they would “do it again”.
- Compared to controls, gardening participants:
- reported improvements in physical activity.
- demonstrated improvement in 2 of 7 physical performance scores:
- While not statistically significant, a trend toward increased physical activity was observed (increase of 14.2 vs decrease of 17.1 minutes per week).
- Approximately 86% of participants were still gardening after 2 years.
- Over the course of the study, those who gardened had differences in the intervention group at baseline compared to the end of the study included:
- Vegetable consumption (1.5 servings per day vs 2.4 servings per day)
- Waist circumference (92.2 centimeters vs 95.3 centimeters)
- 2-Minute step test (64 steps vs 89 steps)
What does this mean for me?
The results of this study suggest that home-based gardening could improve physical health in breast cancer survivors. It can lead to positive behavior changes including increasing intake of vegetables, increasing physical activity and improving function, body weight status, and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
If you are a breast cancer survivor in Alabama, and you like the idea of gardening for health, you may be eligible to participate in their program. Led by the University of Alabama Birmingham’s, Comprehensive Cancer Center and Alabama Extension’s Homes Grounds Team, Harvest for Health uses a backyard garden to teach new, healthy habits to cancer survivors. Extension trained Master Gardeners mentor the cancer survivor to learn vegetable gardening.
Even if you do not live in Alabama, many colleges and local governments have programs that teach you how to garden at home. If you do not have space for a garden, some cities and towns have community gardens where you can plant your own fruits and vegetables on a community plot of land.
Posted 8/31/18
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References
Bail JR, Frugé AD, Cases MG, De Los Santos JF, Locher JL, Smith KP, Cantor AB, Cohen HJ, and Demark-Wahnefried W. A home‐based mentored vegetable gardening intervention demonstrates feasibility and improvements in physical activity and performance among breast cancer survivors. Cancer. 2018.
Disclosure
FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.
This article is relevant for:
People diagnosed with breast cancer who would benefit from increased activity and from eating more vegetables
This article is also relevant for:
people with triple negative breast cancer
people with ER/PR + cancer
people with Her2-positive cancer
people with breast cancer
people with metastatic or advanced cancer
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IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF RESEARCH
Study background:
Most breast cancer survivors in the United States do not meet The American Cancer Society recommendations of eating at least 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables and getting 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Gardening may be one approach towards both goals.
The therapeutic nature of gardening is associated with improved physical and psychosocial well-being. It can increase physical activity and improve body weight issues, and it has been shown to increase vegetable consumption across several populations.
Researchers of this study wanted to know:
Whether a mentored home-based gardening intervention changes health-related outcomes among breast cancer survivors.
Study design:
This 2-arm trial randomly assigned breast cancer survivors to a 1-year mentored gardening intervention or to a wait-list control group. Breast cancer survivors in the Birmingham, Alabama area were recruited by a mailed invitation between August 2013 and May 2014. Potential participants were identified using the Alabama Statewide Cancer Registry and local hospital registries. Self-referrals were also recruited through support groups and media.
Inclusion criteria were:
- Completion of cancer treatment
- Currently eating less than 5 daily servings of vegetables and fruits
- Exercising less than 150 minutes per week
- One or more physical function limitations
- Ability to speak and write English
- Residing within 15-miles of a Master Gardener
- Living in a residence with 6 or more hours of sunlight a day, running water, and space for 1 raised garden bed or 4 grow boxes
- Willingness to be to either study arm
Exclusion criteria were:
- Other health conditions that would impair a participant’s ability to complete study assessments or participate in unsupervised activity
- Current use of Warfarin
- Having had a successful vegetable garden in the past 2 years
Each breast cancer survivor was paired with an Alabama Cooperative Master Gardener Extension System-certified Master Gardener. (A survey of the Master Gardeners suggested that approximately 70% were extremely interested in volunteering for this project.) Master Gardeners met bimonthly with participants to mentor planning, planting, and maintaining 3 seasons (spring, summer, and fall) of home-based gardening over the course of a year.
All participants were provided with approximately $500 worth of supplies, including raised beds or grow boxes, soil, seeds, plans, fertilizer, natural pest repellant, a hose and watering can, a gardening workbook, and a gardening journal to record observations and notes. Participants were also encouraged to participate in a private Facebook group to facilitate interaction with others study participants and Master Gardeners.
The primary outcome was feasibility which was measured by accrual, retention, and satisfaction. Targeted accrual was set at 100, based on Master Gardener capacity in the greater Birmingham area. Data on satisfaction was collected via phone interview after completion of the study. Sustainability was assessed at 2 years by phone interview.
Secondary, health-related outcomes, including vegetable consumption, physical activity, performance and function, health-related quality of life, BMI and waist circumference, and biomarkers were collected at participants’ homes at the beginning and end of the study. Physical performance measurements included: 30-Second Chair Stand that measured lower body strength; Arm Curl (upper body strength); Sit-and-Reach (lower body flexibility); Back Scratch (upper body flexibility); 8-Foot Get-Up & Go (agility/dynamic balance); 2-Minute Step Test (endurance); and Hand Grip Strength.
Vegetable consumption was assessed using the National Cancer Institute Diet History Questionnaire, while physical activity was self-reported using the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire and collected via an accelerometer (a device that measures acceleration). Health-related quality of life was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Body measurements included height, weight, and waist circumference. Participants’ toenail clippings were analyzed for levels of cortisol, which measures levels of chronic stress. Their blood samples were assessed for biomarkers, including measurements of telomerase activity, which measures healthful aging, and interleukin 6 levels, which indicates levels of inflammation.
Study findings:
The trial enrolled 82 breast cancer survivors (60% from the cancer registry and 40% from self referral). Participants were White (60) or African American (22). The majority were well educated, employed, married and living with other family members. Most lived in urban rather than rural areas. Most participants had been diagnosed with localized breast cancer; mean time from diagnosis was 5 years. Most individuals were overweight or obese and living with multiple functional limitations. Four participants did not complete the study (2 wanted to garden immediately and refused to be wait-listed).
The trial surpassed all benchmarks:
- 82% accrual
- 95% retention
- 100% satisfaction
Statistically significant differences between the intervention group and the control group were observed in the following:
- Self-reported physical activity
- +14 vs -17 minutes per week
- Demonstrated improvement in 2 of 7 physical performance scores:
- 2-Minute Step Test (21.9 vs +10 steps)
- Arm Curl (2.7 vs +0.1 repetitions)
While not statistically significant, there was a trend toward increased physical activity +14.2 vs -17.1 minutes per week.
Statistically significant differences in the intervention group at baseline compared to the end of the study included:
- Vegetable consumption (1.5 servings per day vs 2.4 servings per day)
- Waist circumference (92.2 centimeters vs 95.3 centimeters)
- 2-Minute step test (64 steps vs 89 steps)
- 30-sec Chair Stand (12.6 rises vs 14.2 rises)
- Sit & Reach (0.2 inches vs 1.4 inches)
- Back Scratch (-3.6 inches vs -2.1 inches)
- Arm Curls (16 curls vs 18.7 curls)
- Hand Grip Strength (23.1 kilograms vs 24.4 kilograms)
Approximately 86% of participants were still gardening after 2 years.
Limitations:
Having only 82 total participants limited this study. Geographic area was also a limitation. Vegetable gardening can be done successfully during 3 of the 4 seasons in Birmingham. It can be considerably more challenging to successfully garden that much of the year in other areas of the country.
The design of the intervention was both a strength and a weakness. While the enthusiastic participation by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System Master Gardeners was a plus, the intervention required more time from the Master Gardeners than community-based classes or gardens. To ensure standardization across the study, participants were provided needed gardening supplies free of charge. This would likely limit expansion of this program.
Conclusions:
The findings of this study suggest that mentored home-based vegetable gardening is an integrative approach that may improve vegetable consumption, physical activity and function, body weight status, and health-related quality of life outcomes for breast cancer survivors. However, larger and geographically broader studies are needed to confirm the benefits of gardening across breast cancer survivors.
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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.
Updated: 03/08/2023
- What are my exercise options during and after treatment?
- How much exercise should I get?
- How should I protect my arms from injury when gardening?
- What is a good, balanced diet for me?
- What is a healthy body weight given my age, size and health?
- Can you refer me to a nutritionist?
The following are studies focused on exercise for people diagnosed with breast cancer.
- NCT04000880: AMPLIFY: An Online Weight Loss Study Specifically for Cancer Survivors. AMPLIFY is a nation-wide, web-based diet and exercise study recruiting overweight survivors of early breast, , ovarian, renal, colorectal, endometrial cancer and multiple myeloma age 50 and older who are interested in becoming more active, eating better and losing weight.
- NCT04621721: Physical Activity at Home for Relief from Neuropathy Caused by Taxanes in People with Breast Cancer. This study will look at the effects of gain and balance training and resistance exercise (using bands) on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to educational materials without an exercise program.
- NCT04298086: A Study of the Body's Response to Exercise and a Plant-Based Diet in Overweight Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer. This study is looking to find out what effects exercise and a plant-based diet have on aromatase levels in postmenopausal women who are overweight and being treated with an aromatase inhibitor for their HR+ breast cancer.
- NCT05327452: Testing Home-based Exercise Strategies in Underserved Minority Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: the THRIVE Study. The purpose of this research is to determine whether a 16 week, home-based, aerobic and resistance exercise intervention will increase physical activity levels in Black and Hispanic breast, colorectal, or cancer patients.
- NCT03761706: Impact of Home-based Aerobic and Strength Exercises During Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer on Biomarkers of Aging. To determine if engagement in physical activity during chemotherapy will have a moderating effect on increases in p16 levels during chemotherapy.
- NCT03824145: Every Day Counts: A Lifestyle Program for Women With Breast Cancer (EDC).This study will examine dietary and activity patterns, body composition, blood and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The study will recruit 176 women with MBC in Milwaukee and Chicago.
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NCT04298086: A Study of the Body's Response to Exercise and a Plant-Based Diet in Overweight Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer. This study is looking at the effects exercise and a plant-based diet have on aromatase levels in postmenopausal women who are overweight and being treated with an aromatase inhibitor.
Visit our Featured Research Page and Research Search and Enroll Tool to find additional studies enrolling people with, or at high risk for cancer.
Updated: 03/22/2023
The Livestrong at the YMCA program includes a free 12-week membership and fitness training with certified exercise experts. You can search by zip code for a program near you.
Updated: 08/18/2023
Who covered this study?
Cancernetwork
Gardening intervention improves outcomes among breast cancer survivors This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars