A Virtual Mind-Body Exercise Program During Breast Radiation: Results From a Randomized Controlled Basket Trial

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Integrative Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Cancer-related fatigue is a common and debilitating side effect of radiation therapy for breast cancer.
• National guidelines recommend exercise, but implementation barriers limit access to in-person programs.
• Virtual platforms offer a scalable solution to deliver exercise interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a virtual fitness and mind-body exercise program (Integrative Medicine at Home [IM@Home]) in reducing cancer-related fatigue.
• To assess the impact of the IM@Home program on secondary outcomes including insomnia, symptom distress, and psychological well-being.
• To determine the feasibility of delivering a virtual exercise program to patients undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized controlled trial comparing IM@Home to enhanced usual care (EUC).
• Patients undergoing breast radiation therapy with moderate-to-severe fatigue were randomized 1:1.
• Fatigue was measured weekly using the Brief Fatigue Inventory over 12 weeks; secondary outcomes were assessed every 4 weeks.

Main Results:

• The IM@Home group showed significantly lower fatigue scores at 12 weeks compared to the EUC group (P = .009).
• Patients in the IM@Home group experienced significant reductions in insomnia (P = .005), symptom distress (P = .013), and depression (P = .04).
• No significant difference in anxiety reduction was observed between groups (P = .14).

Conclusions:

• The IM@Home virtual program effectively reduced cancer-related fatigue and comorbid symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
• Virtual delivery of fitness and mind-body exercise is a promising strategy to manage treatment side effects.
• Further research is warranted to confirm findings and explore implementation strategies.