The late cardiac effects of cancer treatment have a profound impact on survivors, who have up to a 70% higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease compared with people without cancer.[5,32,34] The most common cardiovascular conditions seen in this population are myocardial dysfunction and heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, thromboembolic disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke, pulmonary hypertension, and pericardial problems. Common classes of chemotherapy drugs that can cause left ventricular dysfunction include anthracyclines, alkylating agents, antimetabolites, antimicrotubule agents, monoclonal antibodies, and small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Radiation therapy administered alone or concurrently with a cardiotoxic chemotherapy can predispose a survivor to interstitial myocardial fibrosis, diastolic dysfunction, and heart failure. Trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity has been reported to occur in up to one-third of patients with breast cancer when associated with anthracycline therapy.[39] In patients treated with mantle field radiation, these cardiac effects are often not seen for 15 to 20 years after treatment. Survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma who have undergone treatment with mantle field radiation and cardiotoxic drugs have a twofold to sevenfold increased risk of myocardial infarction.[40,41]
Women with early-stage breast cancer are at increased risk for coronary artery disease and heart failure, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in this population.[35,36] Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise may have the potential benefit of modulating cardiovascular disease risk factors in survivors of early-stage breast cancer; the authors of a longitudinal prospective study of nearly 3,000 women with nonmetastatic breast cancer noted that women who adhered to the national exercise guidelines for adult cancer patients (≥ 9 MET [metabolic equivalent of task] hours per week) had a 23% adjusted reduced risk of cardiovascular events, compared with women who did not follow the guidelines (P = .0002).[36]
Exercise Programs for Cancer Survivors
Along with the growing body of research into exercise in the oncology setting, there is now greater availability of community-based exercise programs for cancer survivors. Many physical and occupational therapists offer restorative exercise programs, which are fully reimbursable by insurance for indications such as fatigue, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, osteoporosis, pain, connective tissue disorders (scars and fibrosis), cardiopulmonary conditions, and lymphedema. These programs may focus on improving overall function or specifically on managing or preventing lymphedema, and on improving functional ability, reducing weakness, and increasing the patient’s range of motion. LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a community-based exercise program led by ACSM-certified Cancer Exercise Trainers.[21] These individuals have received formal training to work with cancer survivors during and following cancer treatment, and they understand how to structure and adapt exercise plans for survivors with different diagnoses, treatment types, and disease stages. Many other community programs exist that are more loosely structured. Online programs, such as Restwise, an online recovery awareness program, help survivors learn to interpret their symptoms and understand when to rest and how hard to exercise in order to maximize benefits.[37]
It is particularly important to focus on cancer exercise interventions for vulnerable populations with traditionally poorer access to care, since research has consistently demonstrated poorer screening rates (and therefore presentation with more advanced disease) and lower survival rates in these groups. For example, compared with white populations, African-American men and women have a 25% higher death rate and a significantly lower 5-year survival rate for almost all cancers.[42] Native American populations have the lowest 5-year survival rates of any population (59.0%) in the United States, and were the only group that did not see reductions in cancer mortality from 1999 to 2010.[43]
KEY POINTS
- Cancer survivors should avoid inactivity.
- Exercise is safe and beneficial for cancer survivors at all stages of survivorship.
- Exercise should be adapted to acute, long-term, and late effects impacting the survivor.
- To provide optimal care during and following treatment, survivors should be referred for restorative exercise.
In order to reach these at-risk populations, it is important to adapt programs that have demonstrated efficacy. To date, most culturally adapted programs target education and screening, not survivorship.[44-46] An example of a physical activity intervention for Native American populations is Restoring Balance, a cancer survivor exercise program developed specifically for Native Americans. The program follows the ACSM Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors and is culturally tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of Native American cancer survivors.[47] An important part of tailoring the intervention was to ensure that the individuals working with survivors had specialized training in working with Native American populations. These caregivers learned the cultural nuances of discussing cancer and its treatment with these groups, as well as common barriers to access and uptake, and environmental circumstances and historical context of this population. For example, limitations in the accessibility of facilities may require flexibility in scheduling and a combination of face-to-face and home-based exercise regimens. In addition, all activities and materials were vetted to ensure alignment with traditional cultural preferences and feasibility in the environment.[47]
What Clinicians Can Do Now to Optimize Exercise Interventions for Cancer Patients and Survivors
Regardless of the medical history and background of the cancer patient or survivor under consideration for an exercise intervention, it is important to provide clear and succinct information about exercise at every visit and emphasize that inactivity should be avoided. Survivors need to know that exercise is safe and beneficial at all stages of survivorship, with the caveat that exercise should begin slowly and progress gradually to increase volume (time spent) and intensity of the regimen. Individuals with specific limitations (as outlined previously in this article) should be referred to a program of physical or occupational therapy, and survivors with few limitations should be directed to community-based programs. It is important to remind survivors to start slowly and progress slowly with their exercise routines. A simple handout with ACSM exercise recommendations will make educating the survivor both simple and time-efficient.
Conclusions
It is time that we change our thinking about caring for cancer survivors and become proactive advocates for restorative exercise during and following treatment. Ideally, restorative exercise should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis to enable the cancer patient to improve his or her tolerance of treatment, and to reap the physical and emotional benefits of exercise.[1,3] However, it is never too late to refer a survivor to an exercise program. Exercise at any point in the survivorship trajectory helps to maintain and improve functional ability, body composition, and quality of life.
Financial Disclosure: The authors have no significant financial interest in or other relationship with the manufacturer of any product or provider of any service mentioned in this article.
Acknowledgment: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute under the awards for the Partnership for Native American Cancer Prevention U54CA143924 (University of Arizona Cancer Center) and U54CA143925 (Northern Arizona University).
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