The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life and functional capacity after chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life during the survival period in individuals with small cell lung cancer. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with a diagnosis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), who completed chemotherapy treatment and were in the survival period, were included in the study. A pulmonary rehabilitation program was applied to individuals at 40-70% of submaximal heart rate, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The pulmonary rehabilitation program will consist of warm up, breathing exercises, gait training, aerobic exercises, and cool down exercises. Demographic information, walking distance, and presence of dyspnea were questioned. Inspiration/expiration difference was evaluated. Vital signs were evaluated before each session. Quality of life was assessed with the Cancer-Specific Developed Quality of Life Scale (EORTC-QLQ-C30). RESULTS: Of the patients, 80% (36 people) completed the entire 8-week program. The mean age of the individuals was 51.78 ± 10.23. In the evaluation made at the end of the rehabilitation program, it was observed that the walking distance of the individuals increased significantly. Inspiration of individuals' expiratory difference increased by an average of 2.01 ± 0.40 cm. Improvement was found in the sub-parameters of quality of life (p < 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: The participants with small cell lung cancer had decreased quality of life due to long-term immobilization, surgery, hospitalization times, side effects of chemotherapy treatment, and other problems. Regular exercise programs can provide an increase in the individual's pulmonary functions. Individual-specific pulmonary rehabilitation programs have important contributions to the quality of life in SCLC on the survival period, and it has shown that this study can guide physiotherapists and physicians working in oncological rehabilitation and pulmonary rehabilitation.

Imaging and Clinical Characteristics Predict Near-Term Disablement From Bone Metastases: Implications for Rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish which patients with bone metastases are at risk for near-term disablement in order to assist clinicians in assessing the appropriateness of referrals for rehabilitation services. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center imbedded in a tertiary medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from members (n=78) of a patient cohort (N=311) with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer or extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer who developed new or progressive imaging-confirmed bone metastases during the 2-year course of the study. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Functional capabilities were assessed at 3- to 4-week intervals over the study's 2-year duration with the Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care Computer Adaptive Testing. RESULTS: Seventy-eight participants developed new or progressive bone metastases during the study. Most were men, and 83% had non-small-cell lung cancer. Metastases were most frequently located in the ribs (n=62), pelvis (n=49), or the thoracic (n=60) and lumbar spine (n=44). While neither the number of bone metastases nor their specific location was associated with near-term changes in patient mobility, their association with pain or a focal neurologic deficit was strongly associated with large declines in mobility. Similarly, patients whose imaging studies revealed new metastases and the expansion of established metastases were more likely to lose mobility. CONCLUSIONS: The total burden, specific locations, and overall distribution of bone metastases did not predict disablement. Patients with lung cancer-associated bone metastases are at markedly increased risk for declining mobility when their metastases are expanding in size and increasing in number, or are associated with pain or with new neurologic deficits.

Do patients with lung cancer benefit from physical exercise?

BACKGROUND: Patients with lung cancer are often burdened by dyspnoea, fatigue, decreased physical ability and loss of weight. Earlier studies of physical exercise of patients with COPD have shown promising results. The aim of this study was to investigate, if a well-documented COPD rehabilitation protocol can improve physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) in patients with lung cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-five patients, with a minimum walking distance of 50 meters, absence of cognitive deficits or severe heart disease and motivated for physical training were invited to an exercise intervention. The intervention consisted of seven weeks of twice weekly training, focusing on walking training, circuit training, handling of dyspnoea and instructions in daily diary-based training at home. Prior to, and after the intervention, Incremental- and Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ISWT and ESWT) were performed, and pulmonary function as well as self-reported QoL (EORTC-QLQ-C30 and LC13) were measured. RESULTS: Fourteen subjects dropped out before commencement of the intervention. Seven were excluded after physiotherapeutic evaluation. Of the remaining 24, three were excluded because of insufficient attendance (<65% of scheduled exercise sessions) thus 21 patients completed the intervention. For 17 patients with complete pre- and post intervention data, ISWT increased 9% (-77 to 39%) (median and range) (p = 0.021), while ESWT increased 109% (-70 to 432%) (p = 0.002). Twelve of 17 improved in ISWT, while 15 improved in ESWT. No changes in pulmonary function and improvements in QoL were observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with pulmonary cancer can achieve significant improvements in physical fitness measured with ISWT and ESWT after completion of the intervention program. No changes in pulmonary function and QoL were observed. In addition, we found that a large number of patients dropped out before intervention and that the patients, who succeeded, often discontinued training at home.

Feasibility of an eight-week outpatient-based pulmonary rehabilitation program for advanced lung cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy in Korea.

The scientific evidence supporting pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for lung cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy is accumulating; however, the feasibility of outpatient-based PR in these patients has not yet been evaluated in Korea. We conducted an eight-week outpatient-based PR feasibility study in a tertiary referral hospital setting. Patients with advanced lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer IIIB-IV and small-cell lung cancer extensive disease) scheduled to undergo first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy underwent PR consisting of 60-minute sessions twice a week under the guidance and supervision of a physical therapist, for a total of eight weeks. Feasibility was assessed based on completion of the PR program. In total, 12 patients (median age 68 years) were enrolled; 11 (91.7%) were male with a history of smoking. Among these 12 patients, 9 (75%) completed the eight-week outpatient-based PR program. Three patients could not complete the PR program: two were unwilling and one died from complications of lung cancer. This study showed a 75% completion rate of an eight-week outpatient-based PR program for advanced lung cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, which supports its feasibility.

Factors influencing exercise performance in thoracic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with incurable thoracic cancer often complain of a reduced ability to exercise, but the cause of this has been little studied. Thus, we have explored how various physiological and psychological factors relate to exercise performance in this group. METHODS: Inspiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle power, lung function and mastery over breathlessness were assessed using sniff nasal inspiratory pressure, leg extensor power, simple spirometry and the mastery domain of the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire respectively. Exercise performance was assessed using the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT) during which patients wore a K4 b(2) system permitting measurement of resting and breakpoint heart rate, minute ventilation (VE) and oxygen uptake (VO(2)). Relationships between ISWT distance and the four factors were determined using correlation and ß regression coefficients. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (21 male, mean (SD) age 64 (8) years) walked a median [IQR] of 320 [250-430] metres and reached a mean (SD) of 76 (10), 77 (25), and 48 (14) of their percent predicted maximum heart rate, VO(2), and VE respectively. Exercise performance was significantly associated only with inspiratory muscle strength (r = 0.42, P < 0.01) and peripheral muscle power (r = 0.39, P = 0.01). These factors were also significant determinants of exercise performance (ß coefficients [95%CI] 1.77 [0.53, 3.01] and 1.22 [0.31, 2.14] respectively). CONCLUSION: Of the factors examined, only inspiratory and peripheral muscle performance were significantly related to and predictive of exercise performance. Rehabilitation interventions which include inspiratory and peripheral muscle training are worth exploring further in this group of patients with thoracic cancer.