The role of physical activity in breast and gynecologic cancer survivorship

Kathryn P Pennington; Anne McTiernan

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.01.020

The role of physical activity in breast and gynecologic cancer survivorship

Gynecol Oncol. 2018 Apr;149(1):198-204. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.01.020. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Authors

Kathryn P Pennington¹, Anne McTiernan²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: katypenn@u.washington.edu.
² Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Schools of Public Health and Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.

PMID: 29395306
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.01.020

Abstract

Physical activity improves physical functioning, cancer-related symptoms, and quality of life in cancer survivors, and is beneficial across all phases of survivorship. Observational studies suggest that high levels of physical activity may also improve cancer outcomes such as survival, but randomized controlled trials of exercise interventions in oncology patients with survival outcomes as a primary endpoint are needed and ongoing. This review focuses on the role of physical activity in breast and gynecologic cancer survivorship, based on the available evidence. It discusses specific guidelines for exercise prescription, highlights the role of the clinician in promoting physical activity, and provides useful resources for cancer survivors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
Breast Neoplasms / physiopathology
Cancer Survivors
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Genital Neoplasms, Female / mortality*
Genital Neoplasms, Female / physiopathology
Humans
Quality of Life