A Phase 2 Study of Aerobic Training for People Receiving Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Full Title

Purpose

In this study, researchers want to find out how different amounts of aerobic training might improve cardiorespiratory fitness in people while they are treated for breast cancer. Cardiorespiratory fitness is important for the health of people receiving treatment for breast cancer. Aerobic exercise stimulates and strengthens the heart and lungs and improves how the body uses oxygen.

Researchers will compare the effects of standard aerobic training (a fixed amount of walking each week) versus adaptive aerobic training (adjusting the amount of walking depending on how participants respond to the exercise) on cardiorespiratory fitness in people receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Participants will first be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

• Group A will participate in adaptive adaptive aerobic training for 32 weeks. They start by walking on a treadmill for 90 minutes each week. Depending on how their body responds, the walking sessions may gradually increase up to 300 minutes (five hours) each week.
• Group B will participate in standard aerobic training for 32 weeks, walking on the treadmill for 90 minutes each week.

Treadmills will be loaned to participants for use in their homes if they do not already own one. After 32 weeks, the study doctor will see how each patient’s body is responding to aerobic training, and the results will determine what their exercise program will be during the second phase of the study.

Who Can Join

To be eligible for this study, patients must meet several requirements, including:

• Participants must be planning to receive chemotherapy for breast cancer.
• Patients may not have been exercising moderately or strenuously for more than 90 minutes a week before entering the study.
• This study is for women age 18 and older.

Contact

For more information and to ask about eligibility for this study, please contact the office of Dr. Jessica Scott at 646-888-8103.