Self-managed physical activity in breast cancer survivors: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience many issues of rehabilitative concern due to the treatments they have undergone. Given the chronicity of these outcomes, the increasing number of survivors, and the positive results obtained by supervised exercise, professionals should consider offering self-managed physical activity (PA) programs to this population. Our aim was to map the currently available evidence about self-care rehabilitation for BCS. METHODS: Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases were searched for primary literature. Scoping review methodological frameworks were used to tackle the heterogeneity of the topic. Studies investigating self-managed PA interventions prescribed to adult BCS were included. RESULTS: One hundred-eight studies were included, with sample sizes ranging from 6 to 692 patients. Information was systematically collected in tables displaying study design, type of PA, duration and recommended frequency, professional leading the study, type of supervision, initial training, strategies used to help patients integrate self-care into their daily lives, and self-managed PA efficacy. Tables were produced for every oncological side effect that BCS might experience: lymphedema, arthralgia, cancer-related fatigue, a decline in physical parameters, treatment-related cardiotoxicity, peripheral neurotoxicity, and a possible decline in the quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Self-managed PA has the potential to improve BCS oncological issues. Professionals can adopt many strategies to support patients and empower them with long-lasting self-care competencies. This scoping review provided a comprehensive and easy-to-consult overview of self-managed PA interventions for BCS. We also provided recommendations for future primary studies and secondary synthesis.

Self-managed physical activity in cancer survivors for the management of cancer-related fatigue: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a disabling chronic condition that cancer survivors could experience during and after recovery and that might benefit from self-managed physical activity (PA) programs. This scoping review aimed to map self-managed PA interventions found in literature for the management of CRF. METHODS: Given the heterogeneity of the topic, scoping review methodological frameworks were used. Pubmed, Cinahl and Cochrane databases were searched for primary literature. Inclusion criteria: self-managed PA meant as any exercise program prescribed by a professional either with or without initial supervision and training which then continued independently for a given time frame; patient-reported fatigue assessment included in the outcome measures. Articles dealing with entirely supervised interventions, dietary or psychological-only therapies, and with palliative care were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 543 experimental or observational studies screened, 63 were included. Of these forty-three studies were randomized controlled trials. Data were summarized in tables describing self-managed interventions according to: type of self-managed activity, frequency and duration, strategies to promote adherence, professionals supervising the treatment, outcome measures, and efficacy. A narrative synthesis was also added to further explain findings. CONCLUSIONS: We collected the available evidence on PA when this was self-managed by patients after prescription by a healthcare provider. Clinicians and researchers should consider incorporating self-care programs in CRF patients' recovery journey gradually, identifying the best strategies to integrate them into daily life. Researchers should specify the characteristics of PA programs when designing new studies. This review highlighted the areas to be investigated for future studies pertaining to self-managed PA.

Acupuncture As an Integrative Approach for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Women With Breast Cancer: A Prospective Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial (AcCliMaT).

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of acupuncture for the management of hot flashes in women with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture plus enhanced self-care versus enhanced self-care alone. A total of 190 women with breast cancer were randomly assigned. Random assignment was performed with stratification for hormonal therapy; the allocation ratio was 1:1. Both groups received a booklet with information about climacteric syndrome and its management to be followed for at least 12 weeks. In addition, the acupuncture group received 10 traditional acupuncture treatment sessions involving needling of predefined acupoints. The primary outcome was hot flash score at the end of treatment (week 12), calculated as the frequency multiplied by the average severity of hot flashes. The secondary outcomes were climacteric symptoms and quality of life, measured by the Greene Climacteric and Menopause Quality of Life scales. Health outcomes were measured for up to 6 months after treatment. Expectation and satisfaction of treatment effect and safety were also evaluated. We used intention-to-treat analyses. RESULTS: Of the participants, 105 were randomly assigned to enhanced self-care and 85 to acupuncture plus enhanced self-care. Acupuncture plus enhanced self-care was associated with a significantly lower hot flash score than enhanced self-care at the end of treatment (P < .001) and at 3- and 6-month post-treatment follow-up visits (P = .0028 and .001, respectively). Acupuncture was also associated with fewer climacteric symptoms and higher quality of life in the vasomotor, physical, and psychosocial dimensions (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture in association with enhanced self-care is an effective integrative intervention for managing hot flashes and improving quality of life in women with breast cancer.