A recent clinical trial reveals that exercise can significantly improve the well-being of women with advanced breast cancer, aiding them in coping with both the disease and its treatment. Conducted between 2019 and 2022, this study involved 357 patients diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer across various hospitals in Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and The Netherlands.
The findings indicate that participating in a structured exercise program led to improvements in muscle mass and strength. Over the first three months, women in the exercise group gained nearly 2 pounds of muscle compared to a control group that did not engage in any exercise. Even after six months, participants retained just under 1 pound of extra muscle mass compared to their counterparts.
Significance of Muscle Mass in Treatment
The research underscores the critical role of lean body mass in treatment tolerance and overall health outcomes. As noted by Anne May, a professor of clinical epidemiology of cancer, “The results from our study are important since lean body mass is linked to better treatment tolerance, prognosis, and overall health.” She emphasized that increased muscle strength correlates with improved quality of life and a lower risk of mortality.
The exercise program consisted of aerobic, strength, and balance training conducted over nine months. Participants attended sessions with a trainer twice weekly for the first six months. In the final three months, they had one supervised session and one unsupervised session each week. The researchers observed significant enhancements in physical performance, particularly in balance and muscle strength at both the three- and six-month marks.
Balance training was particularly crucial as 74% of participants had bone metastases, a complication that often leads to increased risk of falls. “Low muscle mass and strength are associated with balance problems, which can be exacerbated further by therapy-induced damage to the nerves in hands and feet,” May explained.
Real-Life Impact of Exercise
One participant exemplified the program’s positive impact. Initially unable to board a bus due to balance issues, she regained her independence after engaging in the supervised exercise group. “Now she can use the bus again, which means she can visit the city center and the library,” May shared, highlighting the life-changing potential of tailored exercise programs for cancer patients.
The findings were presented at the Advanced Breast Cancer Eighth International Consensus Conference in Lisbon. The conference organizer, the Advanced Breast Cancer Global Alliance, plans to launch a Physical Activity Resource Hub in early 2026. This hub will provide patients with exercise videos, guides, and links to resources tailored to different fitness levels and types of breast cancer.
As stated by Eva Schumacher-Wulf, an advanced breast cancer patient and editor-in-chief of the German cancer magazine Mamma Mia!, “We all know how important exercise is for quality of life and perhaps even prognosis.” She also noted that “targeted exercise programs are so important for these patients,” emphasizing the necessity of customized approaches to fitness in advanced cancer care.
This study not only sheds light on the benefits of physical activity for women battling advanced breast cancer but also advocates for the integration of supervised exercise programs into standard cancer care. With supportive resources on the horizon, patients and healthcare providers can work together to enhance treatment outcomes and improve quality of life through exercise.
