The chemotherapy medications used for breast cancer treatment are important for achieving a cure, but a potential side effect is that they can cause a decline in functional capacity (reduced exercise tolerance and impaired physical function) and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The risks of decreased functional capacity and cardiovascular disease are highest in breast cancer survivors as they grow older. The factors causing the decline in functional capacity are not well understood, however they may be related to a reduction in cardiac function (e.g. decreased pumping ability of the heart) or skeletal muscle function (reduced muscle blood flow and oxygenation). Exercise training is used for other populations at risk for cardiovascular disease (such as cardiac rehabilitation), but is not routinely offered to breast cancer survivors. Therefore this research study wants to test whether exercise training can improve heart and muscle health, and increase functional capacity in up to 60 older breast cancer survivors aged \>60 years old who previously received chemotherapy drugs that can affect the heart. The purpose of this study is to compare two rehabilitation approaches: a 12-week structured exercise training program or a 12-week stretching-yoga program. The investigators want to compare whether these programs can improve functional capacity, and heart and skeletal muscle function. To do this, some of the participants in this study will be randomly enrolled in the structured exercise training program and others will be randomly enrolled in the stretching-yoga program.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
Participants will complete 12-weeks of supervised, structured moderate-to-high intensity aerobic and resistance training three times per week.
Participants will complete 12-weeks of supervised group-based yoga and stretching once per week.
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
RECRUITINGPeak arterio-venous oxygen content difference
Peak exercise arterio-venous oxygen content difference assessed using whole-body exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Peak cardiac output
Peak exercise cardiac output assessed using whole-body exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Peak volume of oxygen uptake
Peak volume of oxygen uptake assessed from a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Peak diffusive muscle oxygen conductance
Calculated diffusive muscle oxygen conductance assessed using whole-body exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Peak stroke volume
Peak exercise stroke volume assessed using whole-body exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Aerobic endurance
Walk distance measured during a six minute walk test
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Physical Function
Short physical performance battery total score (Score from 0 to 12, where higher scores represent better function)
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Skeletal muscle volume
Muscle volume of the thigh and lower leg from MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Skeletal muscle myosteatosis
Muscular fat fraction of the thigh and lower leg from MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Skeletal muscle fibrosis
Muscular fibrosis of the thigh and lower leg measured from MRI T1 values
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Calf muscle aerobic capacity
Peak muscle oxygen uptake from maximal plantar flexion exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Calf muscle oxygen extraction
Peak muscle arterio-venous oxygen difference from maximal plantar flexion exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Calf muscle oxygen diffusive conductance
Peak muscle oxygen diffusive conductance from maximal plantar flexion exercise MRI
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Calf muscle metabolism
Exercise phosphate and phosphocreatine responses during plantar flexion exercise 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Time frame: 12 Weeks
10-year Framingham Risk Score
10-year Framingham Risk Score will be calculated from participant Sex, Age, HDL-cholesterol, Total Cholesterol, Resting Systolic Blood Pressure, Smoking Status and presence of Diabetes. The score ranges from 0% to 100% where higher scores indicate higher CVD risk.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.