Exercise and stress-reduction techniques significantly boost feelings of well-being, while reducing symptoms of depression and fatigue in breast cancer patients, according to new University of Miami research.
The study, funded by the National Cancer Institute, found women undergoing treatment for breast cancer who attended a 10-week stress-management program and upped their activity levels were better able to fight off distressing side effects and improve their psychological outlook than those who did not.
"Women who are physically active may also have more confidence in their own ability to continue with family-related, household, work-related, or social activities, which bring meaning and satisfaction to their lives," said lead researcher Jamie M. Stagl. "This may lead to appraisals of lower fatigue, heightened quality of life, and less depression."
For the study, UM researchers tracked the physical activity of 240 women recently diagnosed with breast cancer who also attended either a 10-week, group-based Cognitive Behavioral Stress Management program or one-day "self-help" group.
UM researchers have previously found that stress management improves breast cancer treatment, but the new study found there were additional benefits for women who were also physically active through treatment.
"Women who increased the amount of time they spent being physically active between the weeks after surgery and their adjuvant therapy had less 'fatigue disruption' -- their fatigue did not disrupt their ability to perform everyday activities," Stagl said. "They also showed a decrease in depressed mood and an increase in quality of life."
A recent study by Ohio State University researchers found women are less likely than men to get the recommended minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day.
For the study, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, researchers tracked more than 1,000 people, and found that women were getting only about 18 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise daily, compared to men who averaged 30 minutes of exercise daily.