Overview
There are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States and cancer survivors have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to chemotherapy than adults without cancer. Cardiovascular rehabilitation can be an effective strategy to decrease the incidence of CVD and its risk factors in this population. The proposed study may help to examine the effect of a novel exercise intervention on cardiovascular rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- diagnosis of primary invasive non-metastatic breast cancer, stages I-III
- female based on biological sex
- 40 to 80 years of age
- completed chemotherapy 6 to 18 months prior to study enrollment
- absence of contraindications to exercise or study participation
- study clinician approval
Exclusion Criteria:
- do not meet inclusion criteria
- completed chemotherapy and/or other cancer treatment (i.e., surgery or radiation) within past 6 months. Adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer (e.g., ovarian suppression, SERMs, SERDs, AIs), CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, HER2 targeted agents, immunotherapy and bisphosphonates are allowed within past 6 months.
- receiving or scheduled to receive radiation therapy during study participation
- scheduled to receive surgery during study participation
- receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy during study participation is not allowed. Adjuvant endocrine therapy, CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, HER2 targeted agents, immunotherapy and bisphosphonates are allowed during study participation.
- lymphedema stage ≥ 2 prior to study enrolment
- 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)
- body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2
- current participation in other experimental interventions that may confound interpretation of study findings (e.g., dietary intervention for weight loss)
- consistent participation in ≥150 min/week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training in previous 6 months