Team Triathlon Effects on Physiological, Psychological, and Immunological Measures in Women Breast Cancer Survivors

Authors

• Judy A. Tjoe, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health
• Linda B. Piacentine, Marquette UniversityFollow
• Paula E. Papanek, Marquette UniversityFollow
• Hershel Raff, Medical College of Wisconsin
• John Richards, Aurora Health Care
• April Harkins, Marquette University
• Jun Yin, Aurora Health Care
• Alexander V. Ng, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2020

Publisher

Springer

Source Publication

Supportive Care in Cancer

Source ISSN

0941-4355

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05457-2

Abstract

Purpose

Exercise after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment improves cancer-related outcomes, although the mechanisms involved are not clear. This study evaluated the impact of exercise on body composition, strength, endurance, quality of life (QOL), fatigue, and endocrine and inflammatory biomarkers in breast cancer survivors participating in a highly monitored, clinically supervised, moderate-intensity exercise program. The association of hormonal and inflammatory biomarkers with the observed physiological changes was assessed.

Methods

Female breast cancer survivors (BCS; n = 46) who engaged in a goal-oriented 14-week triathlon exercise training program were compared to an untrained control group of female BCS (n = 16). Psychosocial metrics, QOL, cancer-related fatigue, and exercise self-efficacy were evaluated via pre- and post-exercise intervention questionnaires. Serum estradiol and inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein (CRP), sTNFR1a, estradiol, leptin, and adiponectin) were measured prior to the exercise training program start and after the completion of the goal triathlon.

Results

After exercise training, the exercise group had lower BMI and arm circumferences. Greater positive change was noted in the trained group for QOL, fatigue, and self-efficacy questionnaires. Functional endurance improved in the trained but not the control group. Knee and elbow strength were not different between the groups, except that knee flexion at 180 degrees∙sec⁻¹ was higher in trained. The only significantly different biomarker was adiponectin, which decreased in the trained group.

Conclusions

Group triathlon exercise training may be beneficial to BCS by significantly improving their psychosocial measures, functional endurance, and BMI.

Comments

Supportive Care in Cancer, Vol. 28 (2020): 6095-6104. DOI.

Recommended Citation

Tjoe, Judy A.; Piacentine, Linda B.; Papanek, Paula E.; Raff, Hershel; Richards, John; Harkins, April; Yin, Jun; and Ng, Alexander V., "Team Triathlon Effects on Physiological, Psychological, and Immunological Measures in Women Breast Cancer Survivors" (2020). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 1272.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/1272