Can Exercise Training Reduce the Frequency and Severity of Hot Flushes Associated With Breast Cancer Treatment?

Liverpool John Moores University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer

Treatments: Behavioral: Exercise Intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03286257

16/NW/0166

Details and patient eligibility

About

In brief, this study sets out to understand if exercise training can reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes associated with breast cancer treatment.

Full description

In detail, the aim of this research project is to investigate whether improving temperature control mechanisms including vascular function, with exercise training is beneficial in alleviating hot flushes in breast cancer patients and their associated quality of life symptoms. Participants will be recruited at least 3-months post breast cancer treatment (surgery, radio-therapy, chemotherapy). This time point has been chosen for this study to allow patients to fully engage in the exercise intervention following treatment. All participants will be asked to attend the laboratory at Liverpool John Moores University on 4 separate occasions; 2 visits pre- and 2 visits following the exercise intervention for data collection including measures of vascular health, physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and fitness. The investigators will also gain information on food intake and incidence of hot flushes across a 7-day period pre- and post the intervention.

Enrollment: 8 patients

Sex: Female

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Able to provide written informed consent
• Pre-menopausal, Peri-menopausal or post-menopausal
• >4 hot flushes per day
• Female
• Treated with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor

Exclusion criteria

• Uncontrolled or severe hypertension (blood pressure > 160/100 mm Hg)
• Any previous injury preventing exercise
• Type 1 or 2 diabetes
• Anti-depressants
• Currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Current smoker
• Cannot readily read and understand English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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8 participants in 1 patient group

Exercise Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will complete a partially supervised 4 month exercise program consisting of 3-5 sessions/week at a moderate intensity (40-75% heart rate (HR) reserve) at Liverpool Lifestyles gyms. Participants will be given free access to the Wellness Key System© when using the Lifestyles exercise equipment which allows researchers to remotely track the exercise intensity of participants accurately.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Exercise Intervention