| Aerobic exercise prevents anemia during treatment of breast cancer The purpose of this study was to examine whether moderate intensity walking performed during radiation treatment of breast cancer would have an effect on hemoglobin, hematocrit, or red blood cell counts. The study was a random control clinical trial using a pretest intervention, post test design. 20 sedentary females, aged 35-65 years, with Stage 0 (ductal carcinoma insitu) to Stage III breast cancer completed this study. Women in the aerobic exercise group performed moderate intensity walking for 20-45 minutes on 3-5 days per week, at 50-70% of their measured maximum heart rates, during seven weeks of radiation. Women in the non-training group performed placebo-flexibility activities during this same time. Following the intervention, women in the training group had modest non-significant improvements in hemoglobin from 12.30 to 12.40 g/dL, in hematocrit from 38.00% to 38.8%, and in red blood cell counts from 4.10 to 4.21 million cells/mcl. Non-training women experienced declines in hemoglobin from 12.1 to 11.77 g/dL, in hematocrit from 37.37% to 36.45%, and in red blood cell counts from 4.30 to 4.19 million cells/mcl. Study results support walking as an economical and healthy method to prevent anemia during radiation for breast cancer.
Bibliographic reference:
Jacqueline S. Drouin Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Professions and Studies, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, Michigan, USA
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