The Effects of Anthracycline/Taxane Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Resistance Exercise on Body Composition, Muscle Strength, Quality of Life and Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors

Abstract

Adjuvant chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer with the widely used anthracycline/taxane combination has potential myotoxic effects on skeletal muscle. More generally morbidity linked to breast cancer treatment may well be associated with physical deconditioning. Together these factors could lead to reduced muscle strength, increased fatigue and consequent decreases in quality of life. Resistance exercise offers the potential to promote improvements in muscle mass and strength, with related benefits in functional capacity and life quality in this population. The primary aims of this thesis were to investigate the effects of anthracycline/taxane adjuvant chemotherapy treatment and resistance exercise on body composition, knee muscle strength, quality of life (QoL) and perceived fatigue in women diagnosed with breast cancer. The study was designed: 1. To assess the effects of anthracycline/taxane chemotherapy on the following outcome measures in a group of volunteers following surgery for breast cancer: • whole body muscle and fat composition, • knee extension/flexion muscle strength • quality of life • perceived overall fatigue 2. To compare these outcome measures in women post chemotherapy with a group of age-matched sedentary healthy females. 3. To evaluate the effect of an individualised semi home-based 12-week resistance exercise intervention on the above variables in women with breast cancer compared to a non-exercising breast cancer control group. 4. To determine whether the changes in the above variables following the exercise intervention differs between women treated with chemotherapy compared with a healthy control group