Experience of Physical Activity in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Physical activity plays an important role in the recovery of breast cancer survivors. However, previous studies have shown that most breast cancer survivors have inadequate levels of physical activity.

This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of physical activity in breast cancer survivors.

Twelve participants aged 38 to 65 years who had completed surgery and related treatment for breast cancer were recruited from the outpatient service of a hospital in Daqing, China. The phenomenological method was used in this qualitative research. Semistructured interviews were conducted to explore the influencing factors of physical activity in breast cancer survivors. Colaizzi's 7-step analysis method was used to code the data and identify descriptive themes.

Four themes affecting the daily physical activity of breast cancer patients were extracted: perception and motivation (knowledge about benefits, goals, and motivation for physical activity), symptom burden (psychological and physical symptoms), social support (support from oncology staff, family, and peers) and environmental resources (seasonal impact, community resources).

The physical activity of breast cancer survivors is affected by many factors. Oncology providers need to strengthen assessment, identify barriers, and provide interventions to promote the patients' participation in physical activity and to improve their quality of life.

It is necessary for providers to integrate medical and social support resources, use strategies to enhance motivation, and effectively solve barriers to increase physical activity in breast cancer survivors.