Physical Activity and Quality of Life After Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer
Posted: Friday, March 6, 2020
Steps on the treadmill, laps in the pool, or blocks on a bike can help reduce the negative impact of thoracic radiation therapy. The results of a study conducted by Sheela Krishnan, MD, of Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, and colleagues suggest that “high levels of physical activity prior to initiation of radiation therapy for cancer are associated with better physical functioning and quality of life” afterward. Dr. Krishnan presented the team’s findings during a course on cardiovascular care of the oncology patient at the 2020 American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in Washington, DC.
The study included 133 patients (median age, 54 years; 78.2% female) with lung cancer, breast cancer, or mediastinal lymphoma who were treated with radiation to the chest, which can often increase fatigue and foster breathing difficulties. Indeed, in this cohort, a nonsignificant trend developed toward increased fatigue with increasing radiation dose; patients with lung cancer reported increased fatigue and dyspnea right after radiation therapy sessions. However, taking into account variations in all the patients’ chemotherapy and radiation doses, results indicated that increased physical activity over time was significantly associated with concurrent improvements in fatigue and shortness of breath.
The investigators collected data before and after radiation therapy was administered, as well as 5 to 9 months after the completion of radiation therapy. “Additional work is still needed to understand the types and timing of exercises that can bring about the greatest benefit,” said Dr. Krishnan in an ACC press release.
Disclosure: For disclosures of the study authors, visit acc.org.
