The Effect of Exercise on Physical Aspect of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world and chemotherapy is the most common therapeutic approach for it. However, chemotherapy has many side effects which deteriorate patients' quality of life. This study aimed to find the effects of exercise on quality of life among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

METHODS: In this clinical trial study, 60 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Seyed Alshohad Hospital in Isfahan were selected. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. Both groups completed a questionnaire of quality of life before the intervention. The intervention group had six weeks of exercise. At the end of exercise intervention, all patients of the two groups completed the quality of life questionnaire again. Data were analyzed via SPSS₁₅ software using independent and paired t-test.

RESULTS: In the intervention group, even though the mean score of physical aspect of quality of life was increased, the difference was not significant (p = 0.107). The mean score of physical aspect of quality of life in the control group was decreased, but there was no significant difference between the physical aspect of quality of life before and after the intervention (p = 0.187). After the intervention, the mean score of the physical aspect of quality of life was significantly higher in the intervention group (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION: This study showed that exercise intervention is useful for enhancing physical aspect of quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

KEY WORDS: Breast cancer, chemotherapy, quality of life, exercise