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Recommendation
Healthy lifestyle advice – Physical activity
Advise patients to undertake regular aerobic exercise and resistance exercise (strength training) before, during and after breast cancer treatment appropriate to their treatment and tailored to their general health, medical condition and fitness.
It is recommended that primary care clinicians should counsel survivors to engage in regular physical activity consistent with the ACS guideline (Rock 2012) and specifically: (ii) should aim for at least 150 min of moderate or 75 min of vigorous aerobic exercise per wk (Level of evidence – I, IA); and (iii) should include strength training exercises at least 2 d per wk and emphasize strength training for women treated with adjuvant chemotherapy or hormone therapy (Level of evidence – 1A)
Useful Links
- Exercise & Cancer eBook 2019. (The Exercise and Sports Science Australia - ESSA)
- Exercise in Cancer Care 2020 (COSA Position Statement)
- Exercise and breast cancer booklet 2019 (Breast Cancer Network Australia – BCNA)
- Exercise for people living with cancer: A guide for people with cancer, their families and friends 2016 (Cancer Council Australia)
- Patient-education brochure on Exercises after breast surgery 2016 (Chris O’Brien Lifehouse)
- Exercise & Cancer eBook 2019. (The Exercise and Sports Science Australia - ESSA)
- The Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement 2019: Exercise medicine in cancer management
How this guidance was developed
This recommendation was adapted from the ASCO 2016 guidelines (United States). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to April 2015 and was not graded by the source guideline authors. The source recommendation was adapted to remove US-specific language and detail.
It is noted that findings from an RCT, OptiTrain, which assessed the effects of different exercises (aerobic training, combined resistance and aerobic exercise training) versus usual care on the physical and mental health of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy found that being involved in an exercise program during chemotherapy can have long-term benefits for women with breast cancer, but that strategies are needed to create better pathways to support patients to maintain physical activity levels.
Related guidance by topic
Healthy lifestyle advice – Physical activity
Recommendation
Advise patients to undertake regular aerobic exercise and resistance exercise (strength training) before, during and after breast cancer treatment appropriate to their treatment and tailored to their general health, medical condition and fitness.
Principles in action
Patient-centred care
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Supportive care
Useful Links
- Exercise & Cancer eBook 2019. (The Exercise and Sports Science Australia - ESSA)
- Exercise in Cancer Care 2020 (COSA Position Statement)
- Exercise and breast cancer booklet 2019 (Breast Cancer Network Australia – BCNA)
- Exercise for people living with cancer: A guide for people with cancer, their f…
- Patient-education brochure on Exercises after breast surgery 2016 (Chris O’Brie…
- Exercise & Cancer eBook 2019. (The Exercise and Sports Science Australia - ESSA)
- The Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement 2019: Exerc…
This recommendation was adapted from the ASCO 2016 guidelines (United States). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to April 2015 and was not graded by the source guideline authors. The source recommendation was adapted to remove US-specific language and detail.
It is noted that findings from an RCT, OptiTrain, which assessed the effects of different exercises (aerobic training, combined resistance and aerobic exercise training) versus usual care on the physical and mental health of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy found that being involved in an exercise program during chemotherapy can have long-term benefits for women with breast cancer, but that strategies are needed to create better pathways to support patients to maintain physical activity levels.
Related guidance by topic
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