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Original research
Lower physical activity and functional capacity after breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy
  1. Clarice Gomes Chagas Teodózio,
  2. Thamyres Vitória Francisco da Silva Correia Gomes,
  3. Louise Acalantis Pereira Pires Fernandes,
  4. Raphaela Nunes de Lucena,
  5. Jessica Malena Pedro da Silva,
  6. Suzana Sales de Aguiar,
  7. Luiz Claudio Santos Thuler and
  8. Anke Bergmann
  1. Instituto Nacional do Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  1. Correspondence to Dr Anke Bergmann; abergmann{at}inca.gov.br

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity (PA) and functional capacity of breast cancer patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods The investigation comprises a prospective cohort study including women 18 years or older who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer at a single oncology centre between 4 April 2016 and 31 October 2018. Patients were evaluated in terms of self-reported PA levels and physical capacity using the following physical tests: handgrip strength, sitting and standing up in 30 s and stationary walking for 2 min. Variables were compared before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using the Wilcoxon test.

Results A total of 440 women were analysed, 88.2% of whom presented at an advanced clinical stage. The mean age of the patients was 51.0 years (±11.0), 68.0% were non-white and 53.9% were not working at the time of diagnosis. Decreased PA levels and handgrip strength (p<0.002) were observed following chemotherapy, although no changes in aerobic capacity and lower limb resistance (LLR) were noted (p=0.595 and p=0.163, respectively).

Conclusion Women with breast cancer exhibit decreased PA levels and handgrip strength following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, although no alterations in aerobic capacity and LLR were observed at the end of treatment.

  • Breast
  • Rehabilitation
  • Supportive care

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request.

https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2024-005358

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available upon reasonable request.

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation and data collection and analysis were performed by CGCT, TVFdSCG, L APPF, RNL, JMPS and SSA. The first draft of the manuscript was written by LCST, AB and CGCT, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. AB is the guarantor.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.