The Role of Physical Activity on Cancer Patients’ and Survivors’ Health-Related Quality of Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 863

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
Interests: exercise and health; physical activity; breast cancer; oncology; quality of Life; neurodegenerative diseases; oxidative stress; medical research

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00135 Rome, Italy
Interests: exercise and health; physical activity; breast cancer; oncology; quality of Life; animal assisted intervention; cognitive diseases; medical research

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and the number of people living with or beyond cancer is expected to rise due to screening campaigns and advancements in treatments. Recently, physical activity has been included in integrative therapy either immediately after a cancer diagnosis or in the early steps post surgery because of its ability to improve survival outcomes. Moreover, physical activity might have substantial potential to ameliorate the short- and long-term effects of cancer treatments, such as fatigue, body fat gain, and physical fitness loss. Moreover, adapted exercise can help prevent the development of other chronic diseases for which survivors might be at risk, such as diabetes and CVD, reducing the odds of a recurrence and increasing survival.

We are pleased to invite you to provide research about the role of exercise and physical activity on primary and tertiary cancer prevention, focusing on the improvement of patients’ health-related quality of life through ameliorating the short- and long-term effects of cancer treatments.

This Special Issue aims to collect original studies and reviews that examine the potential role of exercise in ameliorating health-related quality of life in cancer patients immediately after diagnosis and during and/or after treatment.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Clinical trials.
  • Observational studies.
  • Narrative reviews.
  • Systematic reviews.
  • Meta-analysis reviews.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Elisa Grazioli
Dr. Claudia Cerulli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • exercise
  • physical activity
  • oncology
  • health-related quality of life
  • survival

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 677 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Association between Health-Related Physical Fitness and Quality of Life in Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Anita Borsati, Diana Giannarelli, Lorenzo Belluomini, Christian Ciurnelli, Alessio Colonna, Irene D’Amico, Arianna Daniele, Nicole Del Bianco, Linda Toniolo, Ilaria Trestini, Daniela Tregnago, Jessica Insolda, Marco Sposito, Massimo Lanza, Michele Milella, Federico Schena, Sara Pilotto and Alice Avancini
Healthcare 2024, 12(16), 1643; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161643 - 17 Aug 2024
Viewed by 642
Abstract
Whereas an exercise intervention effectively improves patients’ quality of life, little information is available about the contribution of each physical fitness component. This study aims to explore the association between physical fitness components and the quality-of-life domain in patients with cancer. Between September [...] Read more.
Whereas an exercise intervention effectively improves patients’ quality of life, little information is available about the contribution of each physical fitness component. This study aims to explore the association between physical fitness components and the quality-of-life domain in patients with cancer. Between September 2021 and August 2023, 160 patients with mixed cancer types visiting the Oncology Unit were selected on a consecutive basis according to selection criteria. They underwent a comprehensive baseline assessment including the six-minute walking test, the handgrip strength test, the isometric leg press test, the back scratch, sit and reach tests, their waist–hip ratio, and their body mass index. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and Core Questionnaire was used to measure the quality of life. The sample size was based on the use of regression models to study associations between clinical characteristics and fitness outcomes. All of the analyses were performed using the SPSS v.25 statistical package. Patients had a mean age of 58 years, 68% were female, 42% were affected by breast cancer, and all were receiving anticancer treatments. Higher functional capacity was associated with better global health status (p < 0.0001) and physical (p < 0.0001), role (p < 0.0001), emotional (p = 0.026), and social function (p = 0.016) and inversely linked with fatigue (p = 0.001). Lower-limb flexibility was significantly associated with all of the domains except for role and social functions. The waist–hip ratio was inversely associated with physical function (p < 0.0001) and positively related to fatigue (p = 0.037). Exercise programs aiming to improve the quality of life in cancer should be addressed to optimize these fitness components. Full article
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