Mixed
Aerobic or resistance exercise performed concurrently with adjuvant breast cancer therapy (chemotherapy/radiotherapy) significantly improves physical fitness and reduces fatigue, while having little to no effect on depression or cancer-specific quality of life.
If you are undergoing breast cancer treatment, start a gentle aerobic or resistance exercise program (at least 6 weeks duration) as tolerated. It will likely help you maintain physical fitness and reduce tiredness. Do not expect it to cure depression or significantly change your cancer-specific quality of life scores, but it is safe and beneficial for physical capacity. Consult your oncology team before starting.
Exercise during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer can be regarded as a supportive self care intervention that probably results in less fatigue, improved physical fitness, and little or no difference in cancer-specific quality of life and depression.
Why this rating
Moderate-quality evidence for fitness and fatigue based on 15-19 RCTs, but downgraded due to lack of blinding and performance bias.
Source
Exercise for women receiving adjuvant therapy for breast cancer
Anna C Furmaniak et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2016
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