The Effect of Non-Supervised Physical Activity Before and After Breast Cancer Surgery on Quality of Life; Follow-Up Results From a Randomised Controlled Trial (Physsurg-b)

Abstract PurposeWe conducted a randomised controlled trial (PhysSURG-B) to assess the short- and long-term effects of a non-supervised physical activity intervention at the time of breast cancer surgery. Here we report a secondary outcome, quality of life (QoL).MethodsFemale patients planned for surgery were randomly assigned to either an intervention of 30 minutes of self-administered physical aerobic activity daily 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery, or control. QoL was assessed with questionnaires at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 months postop using the instruments FACT-B, RAND-36 and EQ-VAS.ResultsOut of 354 included participants at 12 months follow-up after surgery, 287 were available for QoL analysis. Comparing intervention to control, the results for the FACT- B score at 4 weeks showed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.975 (95% CI 0.636-1.495) and at 12 months an OR of 0.883 (95% CI 0.581-1.342). The subgroup of patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had significantly lower FACT-B at 12 months compared to no chemotherapy (OR 0.475, 95% CI 0.300-0.735). EQ-VAS showed OR 1.163 (95% CI 0.760-1.779) and 0.817 (95% CI 0.536-1.244) at 4 weeks and 12 months, respectively. RAND-36 domains “role limitations due to physical health” and “pain” showed a decrease at 4 weeks in both groups, returning towards baseline at 12 months follow-up.ConclusionAn intervention of non-supervised physical activity before and after surgery for breast cancer had no effect on QoL. Patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy had significantly lower QoL, regardless of study group.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT 02560662. Registered 25 September, 2015.