Overview
Currently, there are 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and this number is expected to increase dramatically. The proposed research will examine whether a novel exercise intervention for breast cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy protects against cardiovascular dysfunction. Findings may have implications for cardiovascular disease prevention in this population.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Active diagnosis of primary invasive non-metastatic breast cancer, stages I-III
- Female
- 18 to 85 years of age
- Scheduled to initiate neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy (anthracycline, alkylating agent and/or taxane)
- Absence of contraindications to exercise
- Study clinician approval
- Able to give consent
- Informed consent obtained from the subject and documentation of subject agreement to comply with study-related process
Exclusion Criteria:
- Do not meet inclusion criteria
- Receiving targeted therapies (CDK4/6 or PARP inhibitors)
- Receiving radiation therapy concurrent with chemotherapy
- Lymphedema stage ≥ 2 prior to study enrollment
- Any relevant cardiovascular diseases (stroke, heart failure, myocardial ischemia during maximal graded exercise test, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty or coronary stent)
- Current participation in other experimental interventions that may confound interpretation of study findings (e.g., dietary intervention for weight loss)
- Current participation in aerobic exercise training (≥150 min/week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise)