Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026

Community-based Adapted Tango Dancing for Individuals with Parkinson's Disease and Older Adults
Published on: December 9, 2014
Effect of dance on cancer-related fatigue and quality of life
Isrid Sturm1, Johanna Baak, Benjamin Storek
1Department of Haematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, University Medical Center Charité, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany, isrid.sturm@charite.de.
Purpose:
Cancer-related fatigue is a multidimensional symptom with an underestimated prevalence and severity in cancer patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dance as a holistic sportive activity in cancer patients under active anticancer treatment with fatigue as endpoint.
Patients And Methods:
Forty patients under active anticancer treatment (adjuvant (25), palliative (11) or neoadjuvant (4)) with moderate or severe fatigue (≥ 4 on the visual analogue scale) were investigated in two groups for severity of fatigue (visual analogue scale, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy: Fatigue questionnaire), quality of life (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Quality of Life Questionnaire) and physical performance (6-minute walk test) before and after the study period--group A (n = 20): intervention (10 dance classes in 5 weeks in addition to counselling) and group B (n = 20): control (no dance, standard of care, counselling).
Results:
We found significant improvements for cancer-related fatigue in the intervention group (baseline mean ± SD 5.95 ± 1.701, end-of-study mean 3.8 ± 1.542, p = 0.001, reduction of 36 %) compared to the control group (baseline mean 4.95 ± 0.999, end-of-study mean unchanged at 5.0 ± 1.556, p = 0.887); as well as for emotional and social functioning scales and physical performance (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Dance might be an appropriate, effective approach for treatment of cancer-related fatigue.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Survival Analysis
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Cancer Prevention
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Mouse Models of Cancer Study
The development of transgenic, knockout, and knock-in mice has led to an exponential increase in their use as model organisms in research,...

