Cancer Survivors utilizing personalized regimen leads to improvements in health measures after cancer treatment

Research Objectives: To investigate outcomes on health measurements in heterogenous cancer survivors with varying demographics, physical capabilities, and functional status

Design: A cancer patient will enroll in a program with Survivor Fitness after having completed their cancer therapy. Baseline weight, bmi, resting heart rate, blood pressure measurements were obtained. An individualized 12 week course was done, which involved 1:1 diet planning and twice weekly exercise regimen.

Setting: This occurred in the general community in Central and Eastern Tennessee.

Participants: Participants were cancer survivors who had completed therapy at least 6 months prior and included all ages and cancer types. 96 participants had completed the program and had before and after data.

Interventions: Patients had individualized plans for resistance band, aerobic, and strength training based on needs (eg. Sarcoma patient with amputee vs breast cancer patient with mastectomy would need different regimen) as well as dietary program

Main Outcome Measures: Changes in weight, BMI, resting heart rate, blood pressure were principal health measures

Results: One-hundred and seventy-eight participants enrolled for data collection, ultimately with 118 with full data collection. Seventy-five were able to be interviewed for cancer demographic data. Female gender accounted 91.5% (n=108) of the cohort. Breast cancer accounted for 80% (n=60). All respondents had surgery as part of their treatment paradigm, 72% (n=54) using ongoing endocrine therapy, 66% (n=50) completed chemotherapy, 59% (n=44) completed radiation therapy, with 39% (n=29) requiring all modalities for treatment. Average age of the cohort was 51.5 years old (SD=10.1). The fitness program accounted for statistically significant improvements in all health measure categories. Weight decreased in 50%, with mean cohort pre-weight was 175.0 and post 173.7 (SD=37.7; p=0.026). Figure 1 shows individual weight loss. Body fat percentage decreased in 83.9% with mean 35.2 to 33.5 (SD=11.1; P= <.001). Figure 2 shows individual changes in body fat percentage. BMI decreased in 58.5% with mean 28.8 to 28.2 (SD=6.4; p= <.001). RHR decreased in 55.9% with mean 79.7 to 76.7 beats per minute (SD=13.4; p=.002). SBP decreased in 61.9% with mean 128.6 to 124.5mmHg (SD=17.5; p=.004). DBP decreased in 66.1.% with mean 83.9 to 80.2mmHg (SD=11.1; p= <.001).

Conclusions: Surgery, systemic therapies, radiation, and endocrine therapy can all accumulate progressive and late side effects that impact survivorship, wellbeing, and metabolic disruption. Participation in this personalized fitness program led to statistically powered improvements in all health measurements. Notably, on interview, many participants were not trying to lose weight or improve these measures as an expressed goal. Most all were trying to regain capabilities, strength, and routine. Participation in fitness regimen should be emphasized in all routine cancer survivorship planning.
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Author(s) Disclosures: Survivor Fitness is a company providing the described fitness services to cancer survivors in the middle and east TN area. I have no financial relationship or incentive with this company.