
“Deborah agreed to take part in a trial as she was keen to help other cancer patients in the future. "If taking part in a trial means others might be helped then I’m very happy with that."
This study looked at whether moderate exercise helped women having chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Treatment for breast cancer may include chemotherapy. A common side effect of chemotherapy is tiredness (fatigue). It can also affect how you feel emotionally.
Some people also notice changes to their memory, concentration and how quickly they can work things out. Doctors call this cognitive functioning.
Researchers wanted to see if moderate exercise could help. In this study, they looked at incorporating walking into people’s daily routine.
The aim of the study was to see if physical activity improved cognitive functioning and how people felt during chemotherapy for breast cancer.
The study team found that physical activity could improve how people felt during chemotherapy.
50 women took part in this . They were put into 1 of 2 groups.
The women who did the moderate walking had:
Everyone filled in a few questionnaires:
The questions asked about:
Researchers compared the answers of both groups. They found the women who had done the moderate walking had significant improvement in their:
The team concluded that during chemotherapy a programme of moderate exercise managed at home can help improve not just physical activity but also how women feel.
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Kajal Gokal
Deborah Wallis
Fehmidah Munir
Loughborough University
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
“Deborah agreed to take part in a trial as she was keen to help other cancer patients in the future. "If taking part in a trial means others might be helped then I’m very happy with that."