Obesity at diagnosis and significant weight gain after diagnosis are associated with increased risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Regular exercise similarly reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer.
Staff at the Breast Cancer Survivorship Center at KU Cancer Center wanted to know if a structured diet/exercise/behavioral intervention for overweight breast cancer survivors: 1) was feasible, 2) could achieve a greater than 5% decrease in body weight, and 3) would impact measures of overall health, strength, fitness level, and quality of life.
A program was created with the funding of Back in the Swing and the preliminary research findings were presented on December 10, 2009, to breast medical providers and researchers from around the world at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.
The research presented by Center Director, Jennifer Klemp, Ph D, showed that in their "Energy Balance" program including a diet, exercise and behavior modification:
- Breast Cancer survivors are interested in losing weight and maintaining weight.
- The Center could recruit a number of students and have high compliance and participation.
- The women were able to lose 10% of body weight while improving strength and flexibility and quality of life measures (mood, menopausal symptoms, joint pain, etc).
According to Dr. Klemp, "The importance of this type of research is that it sets the stage for future clinical and research targets. We now know we can effectively implement an intervention in breast cancer survivors that targets weight loss."