Body dissatisfaction and its relationship with overweight, sedentary behavior and physical activity in survivors of breast cancer

Heterogeneity of posttraumatic stress, depression, and fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer survivors: a latent class analysis

PURPOSE

Breast cancer survivors may demonstrate elevated psychological distress, which can also hinder adherence to survivorship care plans. Our goal was to study heterogeneity of behavioral health and functioning in breast cancer survivors, and identify both risk and protective factors to improve targets for wellness interventions.

METHODS

Breast cancer survivors (n = 187) consented to complete self-reported psychological measures and to access their medical records. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to classify heterogeneous subpopulations based on levels of depression, post-traumatic stress, fear of cancer recurrence, cancer-related pain, and fatigue. Multinomial logistic regression and auxiliary analysis in a 3-step modeling conditional approach was used to identify characteristics of the group based on demographics, treatment history and characteristics, and current medication prescriptions.

RESULTS

Three subpopulations of breast cancer survivors were identified from the LCA: a modal Resilient group (48.2%, n = 90), a Moderate Symptoms group (34%, n = 65), and an Elevated Symptoms group (n = 17%, n = 32) with clinically-relevant impairment. Results from the logistic regression indicated that individuals in the Elevated Symptoms group were less likely to have a family history of breast cancer; they were more likely to be closer to time of diagnosis and younger, have received chemotherapy and psychotropic prescriptions, and have higher BMI. Survivors in the Elevated Symptoms group were also less likely to be prescribed estrogen inhibitors than the Moderate Symptoms group.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified subgroups of breast cancer survivors based on behavioral, psychological, and treatment-related characteristics, with implications for targeted monitoring and survivorship care plans.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Results showed the majority of cancer survivors were resilient, with minimal psychological distress. Results also suggest the importance of paying special attention to younger patients getting chemotherapy, especially those without a family history of breast cancer.

Effect of the Fit2Thrive Intervention on Patient-reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Full Factorial Trial

BACKGROUND

Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) interventions improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of physical and psychological health among breast cancer survivors (BCS); however, the effects of specific intervention components on PROs are unknown.

PURPOSE

To use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to examine overall effects of the Fit2Thrive MVPA promotion intervention on PROs in BCS and explore whether there are intervention component-specific effects on PROs.

METHODS

Physically inactive BCS [n = 269; Mage = 52.5 (SD = 9.9)] received a core intervention (Fitbit + Fit2Thrive smartphone app) and were randomly assigned to one of 32 conditions in a full factorial experiment of five components ("on" vs. "off"): (i) support calls, (ii) deluxe app, (iii) text messages, (iv) online gym, and (v) buddy. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaires assessed anxiety, depression, fatigue, physical functioning, sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment at baseline, post-intervention (12-week), and 24-week follow-up. Main effects for all components at each time point were examined using an intention to treat mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

All PROMIS measures except sleep disturbance significantly improved (p's < .008 for all) from baseline to 12-weeks. Effects were maintained at 24-weeks. The "on" level of each component did not result in significantly greater improvements on any PROMIS measure compared to the "off" level.

CONCLUSIONS

Participation in Fit2Thrive was associated with improved PROs in BCS, but improvements did not differ for "on" vs. "off" levels for any component tested. The low-resource Fit2Thrive core intervention is a potential strategy to improve PROs among BCS. Future studies should test the core in an RCT and examine various intervention component effects in BCS with clinically elevated PROs.

How breast cancer therapies impact body image - real-world data from a prospective cohort study collecting patient-reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

In breast cancer patients body image (BI) is a crucial aspect of quality of life (QoL). This study examined the postoperative impact of different surgical approaches on long-term BI analyzing real-world data to guide pre- and postoperative patient care and preserve QoL.

METHODS

EORTC QLQ-BR23 BI scores were collected electronically in 325 breast cancer patients within routine clinical care for a duration of 41.5 months (11/17/2016 - 4/30/2020) at predefined time points preoperatively and repeatedly up to two years after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) (n = 212), mastectomy alone (M) (n = 27) or mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (MIBR) (n = 86). Higher scores indicated better BI. A linear mixed regression model was used to analyze the impact of BCS, M and MIBR, as well as non-surgical therapies on BI at treatment initiation and over time.

RESULTS

BI scores deteriorated by 5 points (95%-confidence interval (CI) -8.94 to -1.57, p≈0.005) immediately after BCS, by 7 points (95%-CI -12.13 to -1.80, p≈0.008) after MIBR and by 19 points (95%-CI -27.34 to -10.34, p < 0.001) after M. The change over time after BCS (+ 0.10 points per week, 95%-CI -0.17 to 0.38), MIBR (-0.07 points per week, 95%-CI -0.35 to 0.20) and M (+ 0.14 points per week, 95%-CI -0.19 to 0.48) were not statistically significant (each p > 0.05). At treatment initiation chemotherapy was associated with a 22-point decline (95%-CI -25.39 to -17.87, p < 0.001) in BI score, while radiotherapy was associated with a 5-point increase (95%-CI 1.74 to 9.02, p≈0.004). However, over time chemotherapy was associated with a score recovery (+ 0.28 points per week, 95%-CI 0.19 to 0.37, p < 0.001), whereas for radiotherapy a trend towards BI deterioration was observed (-0.11 points per week, 95%-CI -0.23 to 0.02, p≈0.101).

CONCLUSIONS

Breast cancer surgery negatively affects BI. BCS and MIBR presumably harm BI less than M in the early postoperative period. Our data suggests BI to be deteriorating in the long term after MIBR while improving after BCS or M. Radiotherapy seems to have an additional negative long-term impact on BI. These findings should be confirmed in further studies to enable evidence-based patient information as part of preoperative shared decision-making and postoperative patient care.

Can mat Pilates and belly dance be effective in improving body image, self-esteem, and sexual function in patients undergoing hormonal treatment for breast cancer? A randomized clinical trial

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of a 16-week exercise intervention (mat Pilates or belly dance) on body image, self-esteem and sexual function in breast cancer survivors receiving hormone therapy. Seventy-four breast cancer survivors were randomly allocated into mat Pilates, belly dance, or control group. The physical activity groups received a 16-week intervention, delivered 3 days a week, and 60 min a session. The control group received three education sessions. Data collection occurred at baseline, post-intervention, 6 and 12 months of follow-up with a questionnaire including body image (Body Image After Breast Cancer Questionnaire), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index) measures. The belly dance group significantly improved body image on limitations scale in the short term and long term, the mat Pilates significantly improved body image on limitations only in the long term, and the control group significantly decreased body image on limitations in the long term. The belly dance group experienced reduced discomfort and pain during sexual relations in the short and long term. All groups showed a significant improvement in self-esteem, but orgasm sub-scale scores declined over time. No adverse events were found for any of the exercise intervention groups. Belly dance seem to be more effective than mat Pilates and control group in improving limitations of body image and sexual discomfort in the short term for breast cancer survivors. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03194997) - "Pilates and Dance to Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment".

Comparison of Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors with and without Persistent Depressive Symptoms: A 12-Month Follow-Up Study

Although breast cancer treatments reduce mortality, their adverse effects can increase depression which impacts one's quality of life (QoL). Physical activity (PA) seems to improve the QoL of breast cancer survivors (BCS). However, an unanswered question is the influence of PA on the QoL in BCS with depressive symptoms. Thus, we analyzed the influence of PA on the QoL in BCS with persistent depressive symptoms during 12 months of follow-up. The sample included 70 female BCS. Depression and QoL domains (i.e., functional capacity, physical limitations, body pain, general health status, vitality, social and emotional aspects, and mental health) were assessed at baseline and follow-up periods by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and SF-36, respectively. Habitual PA was assessed by Baecke's questionnaire. Our results indicate a prevalence of 17.1% of depressive symptoms. Non-depressives BCS improved their physical limitations and general health status domains over time, but there were no observed differences in depressive BCS. BCS with persistent depressive symptoms (baseline and follow-up) showed worse QoL scores than non-depressives in all domains, regardless of confounding factors. When adjusted for PA, the difference between BCS depressives and non-depressives lost its significance in the functional capacity domain. In conclusion, habitual PA practice positively influenced the functional capacity domain of the QoL in BCS.

Association Between Different Domains of Physical Activity and Body Adiposity Indicators in Breast Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

To analyze the relationship between different physical activity (PA) domains and adiposity indicators in breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study, composed of 115 breast cancer (BC) survivors. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and hip circumference were objectively collected, as well as the analysis of body fat percentage through bioelectrical impedance analysis. The PA level was assessed by the Baecke questionnaire including domains related to occupational activity, leisure-time activity, and transportation, while the time spent in sedentary behavior was assessed through self-reported screen-time. Socioeconomic status was assessed through the Brazilian criteria for economic classification and considered as a covariate.

RESULTS

BC survivors with higher PA levels in leisure-time activity/sport presented reductions in body fat percentage (β = 1.13%; CI = -2.06; -0.21), BMI (β = 0.80 kg/m²; CI = -1.50; -0.11), WC (β = 1.89 cm; CI = -3.54; -0.23), and waist-to-height ratio (β = 0.13 cm; CI = -0.23; -0.02). Similar values were observed in PA during transportation and in total. There was no correlation between PA at work and adiposity indicators.

CONCLUSION

Different PA domains were inversely related to body adiposity in BC survivors.