Exercise to ReGain Stamina and Energy (The EXERGISE Study)

Description

Women with breast cancer often experience severe fatigue (asthenia) after cancer therapy, seen in approximately 40% of breast cancer survivors. Because older age is a risk factor for fatigue, older breast cancer survivors are at an increased risk versus those in younger age groups. Prior evidence suggests that aerobic exercise reduces inflammation and bioenergenesis disturbance, which are key factors that drive the pathogenesis of fatigue. Although interventional studies suggest that aerobic exercise can improve fatigue in younger breast cancer survivors, anti-fatigue effects of aerobic exercise tended to decrease with increasing age. The investigators postulate that novel interventions combined with aerobic exercise can enhance its effectiveness and alleviate severe fatigue further in older breast cancer survivors.

In this pilot randomized clinical trial, the investigators will enroll 24 female cancer survivors aged ≥ 60 years who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer but have completed adjuvant therapy for at least 3 months but no more than 1 year. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a center-based walking exercise intervention or a home-based walking exercise intervention for an 8 week period. By completing this pilot study, the investigators will be able to collect preliminary data; refine the recruitment, measurement, randomization, and retention strategy; and adjust the statistical strategy and timeline for the potential full-scale randomized clinical trial.