Psychological and Physical Well-Being in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Study of Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Quality, Physical Activity, and Sociodemographic Factors.

BACKGROUND The psychophysical state of breast cancer patients impacts several outcomes and parameters and can directly affect diagnosis, prehabilitation, and treatment. This questionnaire-based study aimed to compare anxiety levels, depression, physical activity, sleep quality, and sociodemographic features in women with breast cancer and healthy women at a breast cancer unit in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study enrolled 41 breast cancer patients with no proposed treatment or psychological disorder diagnosis and 50 healthy volunteers. After enrolment, the subjects completed the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. RESULTS In this study, anxiety levels measured by the STAI anxiety subscale (56.05 [9.18] vs 37.62 [8.35], P<0.001) and BDI-assessed depression levels were higher in the cancer group (12.34 [6.26] vs 6.68 [6.36], P<0.001). PSQI measured quality of sleep (QOS) (5.80 [3.44] vs 3.76 [3.35], p=0.003) and physical activity (PA) levels evaluated by IPAQ were lower for breast cancer patients (1684.62 [2401.19] vs 3473.44 [4756.78], P=0.042). CONCLUSIONS Anxiety, depression, poor quality of sleep, and insufficient PA were common in breast cancer patients. The occurrence of cancer was the main factor causing mental health deterioration in patients with breast cancer. Also, mental state and well-being differed in healthy women compared to breast cancer patients.

Walking Speed and Risk of Falling Patients Operated for Selected Malignant Tumors.

BACKGROUND: A literature review reveals that studies on walking and fall occurrences in the context of cancer have predominantly centered on geriatric patients. Nonetheless, cancer patients of all ages are susceptible to such risks. Both cancer and its treatments contribute to significant risk factors for disturbances in walking and falls, encompassing muscle weakness, impaired balance, reduced proprioception, cognitive impairment, and functional limitations. AIM: to assess walking speed and the risk of falls among patients undergoing surgery for the most common malignancies: breast (BU), lung (P), colorectal (DS), and reproductive organs (G). MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted using a cohort design. A total of 176 individuals participated in the study, including 139 cancer patients, who were divided into four groups: BU (N = 30), P (N = 35), DS (N = 35), and G (N = 39), as well as 37 healthy volunteers in the control group (C, N = 37). All participants underwent an assessment of walking speed using BTS G-WALK® and an evaluation of the number of falls and the risk of falling using a Fall Control Card. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in walking speed after surgery compared to the time before surgery, from 2.7% in the BU group, through 9.3% in the P group, and 19.2% in the DS group, to 30.0% in the G group. At the same time, for groups G and DS, the average walking speed fell below 1.0 m/s, amounting to 0.84 m/s and 0.97 m/s, respectively, in the measurement after the surgery and 0.95 m/s and 1.0 m/s in the follow-up measurement. Falling occurred in all the groups except for the BU group. The created logistic regression model showed that increasing the walking speed measured after the procedure (study 2) by 1 m/s reduces the risk of falling by approximately 500 times (OR = 0.002). Limitations in daily activity were observed in the follow-up examination (study 3) in 75% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical intervention has an impact on walking speed, and being part of the study group influences the risk of falling. Further research is needed to determine the precise risk of falls in cancer patients.

Physical Activity Level and Quality of Life of Children Treated for Malignancy, Depending on Their Place of Residence: Poland vs. the Czech Republic: An Observational Study.

This study aimed to assess the level of physical activity (PA) and quality of life of cancer-treated children, depending on their place of residence (Poland vs. the Czech Republic, where incidence and mortality rates of childhood malignancies are similar). A total of 68 school-age children (7-18 years) undergoing oncological treatment were included in this study. This study used the quality of life questionnaire (KIDSCREEN-10) and the HBSC questionnaire. This study showed statistically significant differences in the level of PA between Polish and Czech children. In Poland, 93.75% of children exhibited no weekly physical effort at the level of moderate to vigorous PA. In the Czech Republic, 69.44% of children engaged in PA lasting at least 60 min per day, or at least 1 day weekly. Physically active children engaging in more frequent effort, at least 60 min daily, reported higher physical performance (rho = 0.41), higher energy levels (rho = 0.41), and less mood disturbance (rho = -0.31). Children with good relationships with parents were more likely to engage in submaximal PA and spend less time on stationary games. Our study showed that an appropriate level of PA improves well-being and quality of life. It is crucial to promote attractive PA programs tailored for cancer-treated children.

Virtual reality in chemotherapy support for the treatment of physical functions, fear, and quality of life in pediatric cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Appropriately selected complementary therapies, such as virtual reality (VR) and active video games (AVG), provide support to young patients during the process of cancer treatment. Therefore, this systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to analyze the effects of VR and AVG on fear, physical functions, and quality of life. Methods: A systematic search was performed independently in Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library electronic databases for relevant randomized controlled and crossover studies. From a total of 5,963 records, 11 met the inclusion criteria. After full-text screening two publications were excluded, yet six studies were included in the quantitative analysis because three studies had a large discrepancy in their measured outcomes. For methodological quality assessments, the RoB2 software program was used, while RevMan 5.4.1 was used for statistical analysis and meta-analysis. Standard Mean Difference (SMD) outcome measures were used for the analysis. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic with a cut-off value of 50% considering intervention and outcome measures. Results: Our systematic review includes six randomized controlled studies and three randomized crossover studies. The participants represented both sexes and were children and adolescents (<18 years old) with a diagnosis of cancer. The analysis of the results allows for a careful conclusion that VR has the potential to become an accessory tool in rehabilitation and oncologic treatment. All of the included studies noted a significant advantage of this intervention. Conclusion: VR has the potential to be an effective and important tool in the oncologic treatment of children. VR immerses the patient, and as a result, produces a distraction that effectively reduces pain associated with standard oncologic care procedures in children. However, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlights the need for more research into the use of VR as support for pediatric oncologic care. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO database (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=319000), CRD42022319000.

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine in an NMU-induced Rat Mammary Tumor Model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) production and a newly discovered risk factor involved in endothelial dysfunction and adverse cardiovascular events. Recently, both NO and ADMA have also emerged as molecules of interest in carcinogenesis and tumor growth progression. Our earlier studies have confirmed elevated plasma ADMA levels in patients with hematological malignancies. However, the cause of elevated ADMA was unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and L-arginine in rats exposed to N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU) for the induction of mammary tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 95 female rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were used in the study. Plasma concentrations of ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine were quantified and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Mean ADMA levels were higher in the tumor-bearing group compared to the control group. Mean plasma levels of SDMA and L-Arginine were not significantly different between the groups. The L-ARG/ADMA ratio was lower in rats with tumors compared to controls. CONCLUSION: Histological assessment confirmed expression of ADMA within the tumor cells, which strongly suggests that these tumor cells were the source of ADMA. Other studies are warranted to further explain the role of ADMA in neoplastic diseases.

The Influence of Physical Training on the Immune System of Rats during N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-Induced Carcinogenesis.

Aim: To assess the effect of physical training on the selected parameters of the immune system regarding CD3, CD4, CD8, CD11, CD161, CD45A cell counts in rats treated with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Material and Methods: Thirty-eight female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with MNU and were divided into three groups, i.e., sedentary control (SC), the group of moderate-intensity training (MIT) and the group of high-intensity training (HIT). Physical training was supervised immediately after MNU administration and was conducted 5 days per week for 12 weeks on a three-position treadmill. Results: A significant difference was found between SC and training groups in terms of the number of induced tumors per rat (1.57 vs. 0.4, p = 0.05) and in the following lymphocyte subpopulations: CD4+/CD8+ (p = 0.01), CD3−/CD11b+ (p = 0.02), CD3−/CD161+ (p = 0.002), CD3−/CD161− (p = 0.002), CD3+/CD45RA+ (p = 0.003) and CD3−/CD45RA+ (p = 0.005). In terms of the intensity of physical training, the highest efficacy was found for MIT and the following lymphocyte subpopulations: CD3−/CD11b+ (SC vs. MIT, p < 0.001), CD3−/CD161+ (SC vs. MIT, p = 0.002), CD3−/CD161− (SC vs. MIT, p = 0.002), CD3+/CD45RA+ (SC vs. MIT, p = 0.02) and CD3−/CD45RA+ (SC vs. MIT, p < 0.001, MIT vs. HIT, p = 0.02). Furthermore, negative correlations were found between the number of apoptotic cells and CD3−/CD11b (r = −0.76, p = 0.01) in SC and between the number of induced tumors and CD3+/CD8+ (r = −0.61, p = 0.02) and between their volume and CD+/CD8+ (r = −0.56, p = 0.03) in the group of rats undergoing training. Conclusions: Physical training, particularly MIT, affected immune cell function and an altered immune response can be considered a mechanism underlying the effect of exercise on breast cancer development.

Pediatric Cancer as a Factor of Changes in the Family.

The occurrence of pediatric cancer is an example of a non-normative situation that reorganizes family life. The aim of the study was to evaluate the functioning of a family with a child affected by cancer. The study was conducted on 339 families. The study group consisted of 153 families with children with cancer (mean age 36.4 ± 6.8 years). The control group was composed of 186 families with healthy children (mean age 39.0 ± 6.3 years). All of them completed the author's survey questionnaire on family functioning and the Resilience Measurement Scale (RMS). A statistically significant association was found between the place of residence (p < 0.001), education (p < 0.001), assessment of the material status (p < 0.001) and employment structure (p < 0.001) of parents and the membership in the study group or the control group. Statistical significance was achieved for the main effects as measured on the RMS (5 factors and 2 groups). The study group showed consistently lower levels of the factors of the scale. Statistically significant observations were reported for Factor 1 (perseverance, proactive approach) and Factor 4 (tolerance to failure, life as a challenge) (12.0 vs. 14.5, p < 0.001, 13.4 vs. 14.2, p = 0.04, respectively). Parents of children with cancer were characterized by lower persistence, determination and tolerance to failure, which could affect the quality of life of the whole family. In addition, different socio-economic conditions of family functioning were found in families with children with cancer as compared to families with healthy children.

Virtual reality intervention as a support method during wound care and rehabilitation after burns: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to analyze and synthesize the evidence on the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) interventions in the prevention of pain, fear and anxiety during burn wound care procedures. METHODS: In September and October 2021, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Web of Science were searched for relevant randomized controlled and crossover studies. Two independent authors described the following inclusion criteria for the search: patients undergoing burn wound care with applied VR treatment compared to any other or non-VR intervention. From a total of 1171 records, 25 met the inclusion criteria. After full-text screening, seven publications were excluded. The risk of bias was assessed for 18 studies by two independent authors. RevMan 5.4 was used for the statistical analysis, meta-analysis and visual presentation of the results. RESULTS: The meta-analysis showed a significant difference between VR treatment and standard care when analyzing pain outcome during wound care procedures (SMD = -0.49; 95% CI [-0.78, -0.15]; I2 = 41%) and in subgroup analysis when immersive VR was incorporated (SMD = -0.71; 95% CI [-1.07, -0.36]; I2 = 0%). No significant differences were found between VR treatment and standard care for range of motion outcome (SMD = 0.44; 95% CI [-0.23, 1.11]; I2 = 50%). CONCLUSIONS: VR seems to be an effective therapeutic support in burn wound care procedures for reducing pain. However, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlights the need for more research into the use of VR as a distraction method. Studies on larger groups using similar conditions can provide unequivocal evidence of the effectiveness of VR and enable the inclusion of such intervention in standard medical procedures.

Virtual Therapy Complementary Prehabilitation of Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer-A Pilot Study.

Breast cancer is becoming an important issue due to its various consequences and epidemiology. Studies are showing that it extremely impacts the mental health as well as the physical activity of the patients. In addition to the most common symptom, which is fatigue, patients also have problems with the quality of sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) therapy in improving the mental state and quality of sleep, as well as increasing the physical activity (PA) of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The study was conducted in a hospital's Breast Unit and included patients at the time of diagnosis of malignant breast cancer. A total of 16 subjects randomly divided into experimental (n = 9), and control (n = 7) groups were measured with the Beck Depression Scale, Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at two timepoints. The experimental intervention consisted of a 2-week (8 sessions) Virtual Therapeutic Garden (VRTierOne) procedure performed daily for about 15 min. Significant differences were identified between groups in the interactions between the main factors seen in the destructive style of the Mini-Mac scale: F(1.14) = 4.82, p = 0.04, and between multiple experiments: F(1.14)= 5.54, p = 0.03 showing a significant reduction in the destructive style of coping with the disease in the study group after therapy (32.44 vs. 28.33, p = 0.003). The level of main effects [study] for the constructive style is F(1.14) = 3.93, p = 0.06 with a significant increase in constructive style in the study group (43.33 vs. 45.33, p = 0.044). Significant differences in levels of depression between multiple experiments: F(1.14) = 5.04, p = 0.04, show a significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms was found in the experimental group after therapy (13.33 vs. 8.11, p = 0.02). However, the analysis did not show significant differences between group analyses (p = 0.25). It seems that VR reduces the severity of depressive symptoms and reduces the destructive style and can be an effective option in improving the mental state of patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Virtual reality as a chemotherapy support in treatment of anxiety and fatigue in patients with cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis and future research directions.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the effectiveness of virtual reality intervention as an aid for treatment-related anxiety and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The term chemotherapy was assumed without distinction regarding type. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were (1) randomised controlled trials or crossover studies, (2) adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, (3) treatment with VR scenarios providing distraction during chemotherapy, and (4) with pain, anxiety, fatigue, fear, or symptom distress as the measured outcomes. Articles in English, Polish, and Italian were sought. For the methodological quality assessment of risk of bias, likewise statistical analysis and meta-analysis the RevMan version 5.4 software and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool were used. Two authors independently analysed the following databases for relevant research articles: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase. RESULTS: From a total of 2543 records, 6 studies met the inclusion criteria for qualitative analysis. At the end of the process, 3 studies remained for quantitative analysis. The systematic review includes three randomised, controlled studies and three crossover studies with an overall sample size of 453 patients. The analysis of the primary outcomes chosen for each study revealed no significant differences between the control and experimental conditions. Moreover, an important factor influencing the results of the review and meta-analysis was the poor quality of the publications available on the topic of distraction during chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Due to the low research standards, the results do not provide an unambiguous answer to the research question. The most important limitations result from the small number of trials, the generally small sample sizes, and the differences in study design.

The Influence of Nordic Walking on Isokinetic Trunk Muscle Endurance and Sagittal Spinal Curvatures in Women after Breast Cancer Treatment: Age-Specific Indicators.

Nordic walking (NW) is a popular form of rehabilitation. NW improves psychophysical condition in breast cancer (BC) survivors. This study aimed to analyze the effects of NW on functional and postural changes of the trunk in women of different ages after BC. We hypothesized that an age relationship would be found. BC survivors (n = 39) were stratified by age as "middle- aged" (45-59 years) or "older" (60-75 years), then randomly allocated to the training intervention. A study group (SG, n = 19) participated in NW and a control group (CG, n = 20) performed general gymnastics. The sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance were recorded at two time points, pre- and post-training intervention. Significant within NW group changes (p < 0.05) were found for the total work (TW) and average power (AP) of trunk flexors and extensors and the upper thoracic angle in middle-aged women. In older Nordic walkers, significant increases in TW and AP of the trunk flexor muscles were observed, with a negative increase in the trunk inclination angle. In CG, no significant functional or postural changes were observed in response to general gymnastics. NW improved both functional and postural changes in middle-aged women. This study identified the limitations of NW training in older women.

The influence of Nordic walking on isokinetic trunk muscle endurance and sagittal spinal curvatures in women after breast cancer treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to assess the impact of Nordic walking on sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 19) that performed Nordic walking, and a control group (n = 20) that performed a standard general exercise programme. Body posture was assessed using Moiré photogrammetry and trunk muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance at 120°/s was measured isokinetically. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA with Scheffe post hoc tests and Pearson's r correlation tests. RESULTS: Women who completed the 8-week Nordic walking intervention showed significant improvements in average power and total work, irrespective of the muscle group investigated. Following training intervention, greater strength-velocity values of the trunk muscles were observed in the study group, compared to the control group. There were no significant changes in postural parameters or correlations for trunk muscle function within spinal curvatures before and after the training interventions. When both groups were combined (Nordic walking + general exercises), functional-postural correlations following the intervention showed a statistically significant tendency toward a reduced inclination of the upper thoracic section, together with increases in all tested functional parameters of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles (r = -0.33 to r = -0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a standard general exercise programme, Nordic walking is more effective for improving isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer. However, no changes in sagittal spinal curvatures were observed after the 8-week Nordic walking and general exercise interventions.

The relationship between sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance after aquatic exercise training in survivors of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Assessment of the impact of aquatic exercises on the relationship between sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance against standard land exercises in women after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: 40 women post breast cancer divided into two groups: a study group (n = 20) participated in the aquatic exercises and a control group (n = 20) performed the land exercises. Data collection occurred both before and after the 8 week intervention. Measurements were taken from the SG and CG performing antagonistic movements (flexions/extensions) to assess the endurance (120 °/s) in isokinetic conditions and a photogrammetric examination to define sagittal spinal curvatures. RESULTS: A significant improvement (p < 0.05) in total work and average power was found among women after the aquatic exercises irrespective of the muscle group under examination. There were no significant changes in any examined parameters after the land exercises. In the study group, there was a significant association of gamma angle decrease and an increase of all examined functional parameters of total work and average power of both the extensor muscles (r = -0,49 to -0.51) and the trunk flexors (r = -0.48 to -0.51). In the control group, a similar tendency of functional-postural changes was observed only for the extensor muscles of the trunk (r = -0.54 to -0.58). CONCLUSIONS: General exercises performed in water, as opposed to those performed on land, are more effective in terms of the functional-postural retations in women after breast cancer.

Effect of Physical Training on the Levels of Sex Hormones and the Expression of Their Receptors in Rats With Induced Mammary Cancer in Secondary Prevention Model - Preliminary Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide. In previous work, we presented results of physical activity in primary prevention in a model of induced mammary gland cancer. In the present study, we assessed the influence of physical activity on sex hormone levels (estradiol and progesterone) and the expression of their receptors (ER, PR), as well as the level of apoptosis of tumor cells in secondary prevention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty 1-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of 180 mg/kg body weight of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) for tumor induction. Three months after the administration of MNU, rats were divided into four groups: low-intensity, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity physical training groups (combined as PT) and a sedentary control (SC) group. Physical training was conducted 5 days per week with a three-position treadmill according to a precisely described protocol. The entire training was completed by 32 rats from which tissue and blood were collected for further analysis. Immunohistochemistry for ER and PR expression, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling method for detection of apoptosis, and enzyme-linked fluorescent assay for detection of plasma hormone levels (estradiol and progesterone) were performed. Statistical analysis used p<0.05 as the significance level. RESULTS: Significantly stronger expression of ER and PR was found in the SC in comparison to the PT group (p=0.035 and p=0.036, respectively). No statistically significant differences were found in estradiol or progesterone concentrations between SC and PT groups. Apoptosis was non-significantly increased in the PT group in comparison with the SC group. Stronger apoptosis in the PT group correlated positively with the level of training intensity (r=0.35, p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Physical training may reduce ER and PR expression in breast cancer cells, and reduce cell sensitivity to pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of estrogens, ultimately leading to apoptosis.

Does Daily Physical Activity Level Determine the Physical Efficiency of Children After Treatment of Leukemia?

The aim of the study was to assess daily physical activity level and its influence on the physical efficiency of children after the treatment of leukemia. The study was comprised of 34 children (23 boys and 11 girls) after the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia or myeloid leukemia (mean age of 11.29 ± 2.81 years, mean body height of 146.88 ± 16.11 cm, and mean body weight of 43.68 ± 13.93 kg). The mean time since treatment completion was 3.09 ± 1.80 years. The level of physical activity was assessed with the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children questionnaire (HBSC). Physical efficiency was assessed based on the palant ball throw (assessment of strength, coordination, and upper limb speed), the long jump (assessment of jumping ability, speed and coordination) and the 60 m run (assessment of speed). Measurements of motor skills were normalized, classified according to age and sex, and converted into grades. The mean values obtained in the run and the ball throw showed low pass grades in the study group. In the case of the long jump, satisfactory grades were obtained. A correlation of r = 0.512 was found between vigorous physical activity (HBSC 3) and the grade in the run. A correlation of r = -0.437 was observed between the duration of computer use in leisure time (HBSC 6) and the grade in the long jump, whereas correlations of r = -0.482 and -0.485 were noted between the number hours per week spent on games (HBSC 5) and the duration of computer use in leisure time (HBSC 6) and the grade obtained in the ball throw, respectively. In addition, different levels of physical activity and physical efficiency were demonstrated depending on the time elapsed since treatment completion. Supervised programs promoting daily physical activity should include children after the treatment of leukemia. These programs should also be aimed at improving their physical efficiency.

Using Thermography in the Diagnostics of Lymphedema: Pilot Study.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of thermography in the diagnosis of lymphedema. Methods: The study included 43 women after axillary dissection caused by breast cancer, whose mean age was 64.4 ± 7.8 years. The subjects were divided into two groups, with the criterion for division being the appearance of secondary lymphedema. The size of lymphedema was verified by Limb Volumes Professional 5.0; body surface temperatures were registered using a thermal camera. Results: In the control group, the difference in the volume of the limb on the operated side and the contralateral limb was 7.5 ± 77.7 mL (3.6%). The temperature on the nonoperated side tended to be higher than on the opposite side. In the test group, the difference in size between the limbs was 54.5 ± 312.7 mL (29.3%). In the case of mild or moderate edema, a reverse tendency was observed. While measuring the difference in the mean surface temperatures of both limbs belonging to two groups, a significance of differences at the level of p = 0.04 was observed. Moreover, a negative Spearman correlation coefficient (-0.34) was observed between the size of secondary lymphedema and the surface temperature. Conclusion: Noninvasive thermography can provide a valuable supplementary tool in the diagnostics of secondary lymphedema.

Physical Activity and Quality of Life of Healthy Children and Patients with Hematological Cancers.

The aim was to assess the level of physical activity and the quality of life of children undergoing cancer treatment, during and after the completion of the treatment. Eighty-eight children aged 11-15 were enrolled. Three groups of children were assessed, i.e., children undergoing cancer treatment (n = 30), children after cancer treatment (n = 28), and healthy children (n = 30). The level of physical activity in children was assessed using the questions from the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC) questionnaire. The assessment of children's quality of life was conducted using the KIDSCREEN-10 Index. The chi-square test was used to assess the statistical significance of the differences in the results between the study groups in the case of both HBSC and KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaires. Children undergoing cancer treatment did not perform any physical activity of at least 60 min (in total) per day, during the week. Therefore, they did not meet the recommendations related to the appropriate level of daily physical activity (Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity; MVPA). Children after cancer treatment and healthy children significantly more frequently undertook physical activity. The quality of life of children with cancer is significantly lower and different from the quality of life of healthy children.

Physical Fitness of School-Age Children after Cancer Treatment.

The aim of the study was to assess physical fitness of school-age children after cancer treatment. The study was comprised of one hundred and fifty six children-children after cancer treatment (n = 71, mean age 11.22 ± 3.11 years) vs. healthy children previously untreated for cancer (n = 85, mean age 10.71 ± 1.22 years). Physical fitness was assessed indirectly based on a ball throw (assessment of strength, coordination, and upper limb speed), long jump (assessment of jumping ability, speed, and coordination), and a 60 m run (assessment of speed). The analysis was performed based on the Student's t-test for independent samples and the analysis of variance and the post-hoc least significant difference test (LSD test). Children from the study group threw the ball closer and had shorter long jump performance compared to the control group, i.e., 12.93 [m] vs. 19.79 [m], respectively (p < 0.001) and 2.46 [m] vs. 2.70 [m], respectively (p = 0.02). However, their mean running time was longer, i.e., 13.33 [s] vs. 11.73 [s], respectively (p = 0.01). Division according to sex showed additionally significantly shorter ball throw distance in the study group in both girls (p = 0.001) and boys (p < 0.001), significantly shorter jump length in the group of girls (p = 0.01), and significantly longer running time in the group of boys (p = 0.04). Children treated for cancer are characterized by decreased physical fitness, and motor ability is sex-dependent. Both groups showed decreased strength, coordination, and upper limb speed. Additionally, worse jumping ability was found in girls whereas decreased speed was observed in boys.

Barriers of physical activity of women post breast cancer treatment in rural Poland.

Physical activity (PA) is an important element of healthy lifestyle, plays a major part in primary and secondary prevention of environmental illness. We examined the level of PA over a period of 7 days using Silva ex3 Connect pedometers in women after breast cancer treatment (BCT). Participants were selected from rural areas with restricted access to recreational and rehabilitative services. Women post BCT exhibited a low level of PA, though not deviating significantly from that of healthy women of the same age. There is a need to increase the level of PA among both: women after BCT and healthy women.

The Impact of Exercise Training on Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Physical exercise is increasingly considered by many authors to be a factor reducing the risk of cancer development and premature cancer-related death. Data indicate higher cure rates and longer times of survival in cancer patients who regularly exercise. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 50 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the experiment. Animals at 1 month of age were intraperitoneally injected with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. Three months following drug administration, rats underwent supervised physical training. The animals were divided into four groups: control untrained group and 3 groups trained with different intensities - i.e. low, moderate and high. Routine histopathological examination of tumors was performed and mitotic activity was assessed by immunohistochemical expression of the Ki-67 antigen. RESULTS: Ki-67 antigen expression was observed in all analyzed tumors. The increase in Ki-67 antigen expression correlated positively with the increase in training intensity. CONCLUSION: It can be assumed that low-intensity physical training is safe for patients with breast cancer. However, moderate- and high-intensity training may induce tumor cell proliferation worsening patients' prognosis.