Regular exercise helps to improve the quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Studies in the past have shown correlations between exercise and decreased cancer risk. To evaluate the effect of regular exercise on the life of breast cancer survivors researchers identified 1,829 Chinese women, aged around 54 years, diagnosed with breast cancer between 2002 and 2008. Ninety-five per cent of the women had a mastectomy, 92 per cent had chemotherapy and 28 per cent had radiation therapy. Approximately 70 per cent of the women exercised regularly at six months post-diagnosis and 74 per cent were exercising regularly for 36 months after their diagnosis.
Those reporting even low levels of regular exercise were more likely to report better physical, mental and social well-being than those reporting no exercise. Also, women who exercised for more than eight hours per week reported the highest capacity for daily living and work or study, less distress, better body image, and higher quality relationships. In addition, the benefits of exercise were still evident more than 36 months after breast cancer diagnosis.
The positive impact of regular exercise on well-being of participants remained even when the researchers allowed for many other personal characteristics, as well as health and disease related factors associated with quality of life.
These above findings provide strong evidence that regular exercise helps to improve physical, psychological, and social well-being in breast cancer survivors.