Effect of Eight Weeks of Resistance Training on Fatigue, Quality of Life, and Body Composition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients: A Clinical Trial

exercise is regarded as an adjuvant treatment for people with breast cancer (BC), reducing their fatigue,  aiding their rehabilitation, and improving their quality of life (QOL) both during and after treatment. The significance of exercise in reducing fatigue and enhancing QOL in women with BC is undeniable; nonetheless, there is a dearth of studies on the impact of exercise intervention on metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. To investigate the effects of resistance training (RT) on fatigue, QOL, and body composition in MBC patients, we adopted an almost novel approach by selecting subjects from this population and completing an eight-week RT program.

This clinical trial study was conducted on 27 MBC patients who were referred to Tehran Naft Hospital from 2022-2023. All subjects participated in the research with informed consent. People were randomly assigned to two control and resistance training groups. Primary endpoint fatigue was assessed using the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)  questionnaire. Moreover,  QOL was measured using the two EORTC questionnaires (C30 and BR23). Patients' adherence to exercise was high (98.07%).  

After data analysis, there was a significant difference between the two groups of total fatigue and all fatigue subscales (P<0/001). The QOL (P<0/001) improved significantly; moreover, body image (P<0/001) and future perspective (P<0/012) increased significantly in the RT group. In addition, body composition (P<0/001) indices improved significantly in favor of the RT group.

As evidenced by the obtained results, for MBC patients, eight weeks of RT can decrease fatigue and improve QOL. Comparing the results demonstrated that, for MBC patients, a combination of physical activity and clinical therapy is more beneficial than clinical treatment alone. The RT is as appropriate and practical for MBC patients as healthy people. For these patients, RT can be a standard protocol. It is recommended that research on larger sample sizes be carried out over a longer period of time.