A Community-Based Exercise and Support Group Program in African-American Breast Cancer Survivors (ABCs)

Nora L Nock; Cynthia Owusu; Emily L Kullman; Kris Austin; Beth Roth; Stephen Cerne; Carl Harmon; Halle Moore; Mary Vargo; Paul Hergenroeder; Hermione Malone; Michael Rocco; Russell Tracy; Hillard M Lazarus; John P Kirwan; Ellen Heyman; Nathan A Berger

doi:10.18005/pthp0101003

A Community-Based Exercise and Support Group Program in African-American Breast Cancer Survivors (ABCs)

J Phys Ther Health Promot. 2013 Dec 1;1(1):15-24. doi: 10.18005/pthp0101003.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
² Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
³ Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁴ Department of Pathobiology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁵ The Gathering Place, Beachwood, OH, USA.
⁶ Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁷ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁸ Department of Oncology, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
⁹ Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pathology and Biochemistry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.

Abstract

African-American (AA) women have higher rates of breast cancer (BCa) mortality than Caucasian women, and a recent study using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry suggests that this disparity may be due, in part, to the poorer health status of AAs at diagnosis and not treatment related issues. Randomized controlled trials involving supervised aerobic and resistance exercise have shown improved body composition and improvement in cancer-related biomarkers in BCa patients and may lead to improved recurrence and survival rates; however, most trials have focused on Caucasians and many have been conducted in academic- and clinic-based settings. We evaluated the feasibility of conducting a 20-week, supervised, resistance training, group exercise intervention coupled with a support group and home walking program utilizing facilities and personnel at a community cancer support center (The Gathering Place, Beachwood, Ohio) in AA Stage I-III BCa survivors who were within 12 months of completing treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and/or breast irradiation); and, evaluated the potential effects of this intervention on physical measures and cancer-related biomarkers. 27 patients provided informed consent and 19 participated in the program. On average, attendance rates were 70.0% ± 19.1% for the exercise sessions and 63.1% ± 13.8% for the support group. We observed a significant decrease in circulating C-peptide levels (B: 893.9 ± 399.1 pg/mL; EOI: 723.9 ± 319.0 pg/mL; p=0.01). Although we did not observe a significant decrease in weight in the entire sample, there was a significant decrease in waist circumference and percent total body fat among those who attended 70% or more of the exercise sessions. In summary, we demonstrated that conducting lifestyle interventions in AA BCa survivors in a community setting is feasible. Future interventions should invoke strategies to enhance adherence and include a structured dietary intervention to enable greater weight loss.

Keywords: African-American; Biomarkers; Breast Cancer; Community-Based; Exercise.

Abstract

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