Back in the Swing-Funded Research Presented at National Survivorship Conference

The National Cancer Society, American Cancer Society, Livestrong Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), held a joint conference on cancer survivorship, Fifth Biennial Cancer Survivorship Research Conference, in Washington, DC, June 17-19, 2010. This conference was meant to highlight important issues in cancer survivorship cancer, including a plenary session and numerous poster presentations on the topic of lifestyle-diet and exercise. Most notably was the importance of keeping cancer survivors moving (exercising) within a non-medical or hospital environment, as this will likely increase the long-term utilization by cancer survivors.

In the study conducted at the University of Kansas Breast Cancer Survivorship Center and presented at the conference, exercise was an integral part of the 6-month intervention. Half of the participants were provided with no-charge memberships to Jazzercise, thereby integrating the key factor of encouraging exercise within the woman's community and not within a medical setting.

Results of the Study were positive: Not only did all participants increase their weekly minutes of cardiovascular exercise on average by 4-fold (60 minutes per week to 235 minutes per week), but they also significantly increased grip strength (Dynometer) and flexibility, while simultaneously improving their quality of life as measured by a decrease in depressive symptoms, menopausal symptoms, and perceived view of physical and psychological function. Also of importance was that women achieved an average weight loss of almost 25 pounds, which corresponded to improvement in blood values, such as a 50% decease in glucose levels, that are related to an overall improved health status and decrease risk for recurrence or death from breast cancer.

Following this conference presentation, the material will be submitted in the Fall to various publications, including The Journal of Cancer Epidemiology and Biomarker Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, review and publication.

This study was funded by Back in the Swing and the NIH BIRCWH K-12 Research in Women's Health.

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