Not all cancers are the same, and quality of life (QOL) for cancer survivors is not the same across the board. Researchers from Fudan University in Shanghai, China, say the effects of exercise for cancer survivors are different, too.
The researchers surveyed 3,392 cancer survivors (colorectal, lung, ovarian, cervical, liver, and endometrial). They asked the patients about the type of physical activity (PA) they engaged in (eg, vigorous walking, table tennis, tai chi) for at least 30 minutes once a week in the previous month. They also asked about frequency (1 – 4 times a week and 5 or more times a week). They used a 27-item self-reporting instrument to measure QOL, with questions on functional status, symptoms, and emotional and social well-being.
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Liver cancer survivors had the poorest QOL in several areas, including the highest level of appetite loss, worst emotional well-being, and worst financial difficulties. Lung cancer survivors reported worse physical functioning than did gynecologic or colorectal cancer survivors, as well as higher scores for dyspnea. Colorectal cancer survivors had the second highest scores on appetite loss and the most serious diarrhea.
However, survivors of all cancer types who engaged in PA reported statistically significant higher scores in physical functioning than did their counterparts. Survivors of lung, gynecologic, and colorectal cancer reported significantly better cognitive functioning. The association was not observed among liver cancer survivors.
Physically active survivors also generally reported lower symptom levels—although only insomnia was significantly lower (among liver cancer survivors). Physically active survivors did not show statistically significant improvements in constipation or diarrhea.
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Physically active survivors of lung, gynecologic, and colorectal cancer received significantly higher scores on well-being scales. The relationship between PA and QOL was not statistically significant among liver cancer survivors.
The researchers did not observe associations between increased frequency of PA and physical functioning or physical well-being among gynecologic or liver cancer survivors. In fact, gynecologic cancer survivors with more frequent PA reported poorer QOL in role functioning, social functioning, and global health status, as well as lower scores on many symptom scales. The researchers found similar results among colorectal and liver cancer survivors; they say this may be because higher PA frequency is related to poorer QOL conditions for some measures.
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Finally, the researchers were not able to define a statistically significant association between PA frequency and QOL. Based on their findings, they “cautiously advocate” for not “strongly” suggesting a higher frequency of PA to gynecologic, colorectal, or liver cancer survivors.
Source:
Tang F, Wang J, Tang Z, Kang M, Deng Q, Yu J. PLoS ONE . 2016;11(11):e0164971.
