Late breast cancer treatment-related symptoms and functioning: associations with physical activity adoption and maintenance during a lifestyle intervention for rural survivors.
PURPOSE
Physical activity may be difficult for survivors with poorer functioning following primary treatment. The study examined whether late symptoms of breast cancer treatment impact PA adoption (0-6 months) and maintenance (6-18 months) during a weight management intervention, and whether late symptoms influence PA when accounting for overall functioning.


METHODS
Secondary analyses were conducted using a sample of survivors participating in a weight management intervention and who provided valid weight and accelerometer data at baseline and 6 months (N = 176). The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist (BCPT) assessed late treatment-related symptoms. SF-12 Physical Component Scale (PCS) and Mental Component Scale (MCS) scores assessed functioning.


RESULTS
Change in bouted moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) min/week from baseline to 6 months was not associated with BCPT scales (all p values > 0.05). When adding SF-12 scores to the model, change in bouted MVPA min/week was significantly associated with the PCS (p = 0.045). Change in MVPA min/week from 6 to 18 months was significantly associated with cognitive symptoms (p = 0.004), but not musculoskeletal or vasomotor symptoms (p values > 0.05). When adding 6-month SF-12 scores to the model, MVPA min/week was significantly associated with PCS (p = 0.001) and MCS (p = 0.028); however, BCPT cognitive problems score became non-significant (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Poorer physical functioning was associated with lower PA adoption, and poorer mental and physical functioning was associated with lower maintenance of PA, while late symptoms generally were not. Interventionists should consider level of functioning when identifying individual PA goals during weight management interventions.
['Fazzino|Tera L|TL|', 'Klemp|Jennifer|J|', 'Befort|Christie|C|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001943:Breast Neoplasms D015444:Exercise D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008019:Life Style D008875:Middle Aged D009367:Neoplasm Staging D009765:Obesity D011788:Quality of Life D012424:Rural Population D017741:Survivors
Physical activity Breast Cancer Prevention Trial Symptom Checklist Late treatment-related symptoms Breast cancer survivors