Over 40 percent of older breast cancer survivors are are not active enough after leaving a supervised program. New research shows that women who developed self-confidence and motivation skills are far more likely to continue exercising on their own.
Regular exercise is an important aspect of reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer-related mortality, experts say, making it crucial for survivors to exercise regularly.
Researchers at Oregon State University partnered with researchers at Oregon Health and Science University who had conducted a clinical trial to understand the benefits of a 12-month supervised exercise program in 69 older breast cancer survivors.
They found that breast cancer survivors with higher self-efficacy, or confidence to overcome exercise-related barriers (such as being too tired), were far more likely to continue exercising on their own. Those with better self confidence were 10 percent more likely to be physically active six months after the intervention than those with lower scores.
The results of the study are published in the October issue of the journal Supportive Care in Cancer. It is the first study to assess predictors of behavior after a supervised exercise program in older breast cancer survivors.
Paul Loprinzi, lead author of the study, was a doctoral student at OSU when he did the research. Loprinzi, who is now a faculty member at Bellarmine University, said the good news is that behavioral skills to increase self-efficacy can be taught.
“We can teach breast cancer survivors how to enlist the support of others and how to identify exercise-related barriers, as well as provide proven strategies for them to overcome those barriers,” said Paul Loprinzi, lead author of the study.
“Especially important is minimizing weight gain after breast cancer treatment because excessive weight gain can increase the risk of developing reoccurring breast cancer,” he said.