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Exercise in the prevention and rehabilitation of breast cancer


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Summary

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide. Several epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between the risk of breast cancer and physical activity levels, whereas exercise training has been recognized as a significant means in the rehabilitation process of breast cancer survivors. The relative risk reduction of breast cancer for women who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for 3–5 days peek week ranged between 20–40 %. Furthermore, several studies demonstrated a 24–67 % reduction in the risk of total deaths and 50–53 % reduction in the risk of breast cancer deaths in women who are physically active after breast cancer diagnosis compared with sedentary women. Breast cancer survivors should be encouraged to participate in rehabilitation programs in order to obtain numerous physiological and psychological benefits. These include reductions in fatigue and improvements in immune function, physical functioning, body composition, and quality of life. Based on recent scientific evidence, a complete rehabilitation program for patients with breast cancer should combine both strength and aerobic exercise in order to maximize the expected benefits.

Zusammenfassung

Brustkrebs ist weltweit die häufigste Krebserkrankung von Frauen. Verschiedene epidemiologische Studien haben eine inverse Korrelation zwischen dem Risiko an Brustkrebs zu erkranken und physischer Aktivität gezeigt. Körperliches Training wurde auch als ein signifikantes Mittel im Rehabilitationsprozess von Brustkrebs Überlebenden anerkannt.

Die Reduktion des relativen Risikos von Brustkrebs betrug bei Frauen, die moderates bis anstrengendes Training 3– bis maximal 5-Mal pro Woche betrieben zwischen 20 und 40 %. Außerdem zeigten einige Studien eine 24–67 %ige Reduktion der Gesamtmortalität, beziehungsweise eine 50–53 %ige Reduktion des Risikos an Brustkrebs zu versterben bei physisch aktiven, an Brustkrebs erkrankten Frauen im Vergleich zu jenen, die keine physische Aktivität betrieben.

Brustkrebs Überlebende sollten motiviert werden, an Rehabilitationsprogrammen teilzunehmen, um von zahlreichen physischen und psychologischen Vorteilen zu profitieren. Diese Vorteile inkludieren eine Abnahme der Müdigkeit, sowie eine Besserung der Funktion des Immunsystems, des körperlichen Wohlbefindens und der Lebensqualität. Entsprechend rezenter wissenschaftlicher Evidenz sollte ein komplettes Rehabilitationsprogramm für Patienten mit Brustkrebs zur Maximierung des erwarteten Vorteils sowohl Kraft-Übungen als auch aerobe Übungen beinhalten.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest in relation to this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100, Komotini, Greece

    Konstantinos A Volaklis PhD & Savvas P Tokmakidis PhD

  2. Department of Prevention and Sports Medicine, Technische Universitaet Muenchen, Munich, Germany

    Konstantinos A Volaklis PhD & Martin Halle MD

  3. Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany

    Martin Halle MD

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  1. Konstantinos A Volaklis PhD
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Correspondence to Konstantinos A Volaklis PhD.

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Volaklis, K., Halle, M. & Tokmakidis, S. Exercise in the prevention and rehabilitation of breast cancer
. Wien Klin Wochenschr 125, 297–301 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0365-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0365-8

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