Lower physical activity and functional capacity after breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy

This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity (PA) and functional capacity of breast cancer patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The investigation comprises a prospective cohort study including women 18 years or older who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer at a single oncology centre between 4 April 2016 and 31 October 2018. Patients were evaluated in terms of self-reported PA levels and physical capacity using the following physical tests: handgrip strength, sitting and standing up in 30 s and stationary walking for 2 min. Variables were compared before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using the Wilcoxon test.

A total of 440 women were analysed, 88.2% of whom presented at an advanced clinical stage. The mean age of the patients was 51.0 years (±11.0), 68.0% were non-white and 53.9% were not working at the time of diagnosis. Decreased PA levels and handgrip strength (p<0.002) were observed following chemotherapy, although no changes in aerobic capacity and lower limb resistance (LLR) were noted (p=0.595 and p=0.163, respectively).

Women with breast cancer exhibit decreased PA levels and handgrip strength following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, although no alterations in aerobic capacity and LLR were observed at the end of treatment.