A Home-Based Study to Enhance Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors

There is a well-documented association between physical activity and risk for breast cancer development and recurrence. Exercise training interventions have been effective at increasing physical activity levels in breast cancer survivors, however they require 1) a large degree of patient initiative to achieve positive health outcomes associated with sustained behavioral change and 2) facilities and oversight that may be prohibitive in a clinical setting. Although most activity-based research to date has focused on increasing levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for breast cancer survivors, large epidemiological studies suggest that breast cancer survivors are also more sedentary when compared to non-cancer controls. A recent meta-analysis of controlled intervention trials designed to promote physical activity among sedentary cancer survivors found that none of the trials within the scope of the review succeeded in achieving 75% or better adherence to prescribed exercise guidelines, leading the authors to question whether shifting the target of intervention from MVPA to reductions in sedentary time might be a more realistic goal. Recent research suggests that interventions designed to reduce sedentary time in breast cancer survivors have the potential to yield clinically meaningful health benefits, especially for individuals at higher risk for sedentary behaviors, however the optimal method of intervention is not clear.

Aim 1: Feasibility of the intervention Assess the feasibility of an intervention designed to reduce sedentary behavior in breast cancer survivors. The behavioral intervention will involve the review of a 7-day baseline snapshot of sedentary behavior and physical activity patterns, combined with tailored activity prompts described over the following 6 weeks.

Aim 2: Effects of the intervention Aim 2a: Describe a preliminary range of effect sizes of the intervention on levels of sedentary behavior, physical activity and symptoms of cancer survivorship (e.g. cancer related fatigue).

Aim 2b: Evaluate the relationship between change in sedentary behavior and change in cancer-relevant outcomes, such as fatigue and biomarkers of cancer recurrence (e.g. IGF-1, Leptin), following the reduced sedentary time intervention.

Aim 3: Assessment of intervention components Aim 3a: Quantitatively assess overall cost of the intervention and its individual components, dose delivered and dose received by intervention participants Aim 3b: Quantitatively describe intervention participants' perspectives on the impact of the individual intervention components, including which components appeared most useful for reducing sedentary time.