Physical Activity Levels Low in Most Breast Cancer Patients

Most breast cancer patients aren't getting enough exercise, a new study suggests. According to researchers, African-American women are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines than white women.

The study, conducted by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is published in the journal CANCER.

For the study, researchers looked into data from 1,735 women aged between 20 to 74 years. All participants were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2008 and 2011. Researchers compared the physical activity levels before and after cancer diagnosis.

Adults need to engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of high-intensity physical activity per week, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Researchers found that just 35 percent of the cancer survivors were following exercise guidelines. Around 59 percent of the women in the study reported a decline in physical activity post cancer diagnosis.

African-American were 40 percent less likely to exercise after being diagnosed with breast cancer, researchers said.

"Medical care providers should discuss the role physical activity plays in improving breast cancer outcomes with their patients, and strategies that may be successful in increasing physical activity among breast cancer patients need to be comprehensively evaluated and implemented," said Brionna Hair, a doctoral candidate in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who is one of the study authors.

An estimated 226,870 women will develop breast cancer in the year 2012, according to National Cancer institute. Previous research has shown that regular exercise can help lower breast cancer risk in women.

According to health experts from UK, exercise can help breast cancer victims survive the ordeal. This study serves as a reminder of how important it is that women with breast cancer are made aware that physical activity can improve their chances of survival," said Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Campaign, to BBC. "Recent research has shown that even small increases to the amount of exercise done after a breast cancer diagnosis can give women a better chance of survival."