| Description |
Introduction: Engagement in regular exercise is effective in improving physical function, and subsequently survival, among individuals living with and beyond cancer (i.e., a cancer survivor). Lifestyle (e.g., exercise and diet) interventions aimed at maximizing the benefits of the intervention to improve physical function are needed, especially among survivors on active treatment. Additionally, there is a gap in knowledge evaluating lifestyle interventions specifically for older cancer survivors (e.g., ≥ 60 years) and the prevalence of older cancer survivors is growing. Purpose: The purpose of this honors thesis project is to address the two aforementioned issues within the field of exercise oncology related to lifestyle interventions, physical function, and cancer survivorship. The first project will evaluate the feasibility of manipulating the time of day of exercise engagement on physical function among women with stage I-III breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. The second project will map the literature on the current state of evidence related to lifestyle interventions aimed to improve physical function in older cancer survivors of all cancer types and stages. Methods : Two studies were carried out, "A Scoping Review of Diet and Exercise Interventions on Function in Older Cancer Survivors" and "Feasibility of Manipulating Exercise Timing in Breast Cancer Survivors on Chemotherapy " (IRB number 00162526). The scoping review will search multiple databases and follow the PRISMAscoping review extension guidelines to synthesize the literature related to the impact of exercise and/or diet interventions on physical function in interventions exclusive to older iii cancer survivors. The second study aims to determine the feasibility of assigning breast cancer patients on active treatment to exercise in a given time window, either the morning hours (5-10 am; AM group) or afternoon/evening hours (3-8 pm; PM group) for a 4-week intervention. For this project, I will carry out descriptive statistics in Excel to characterize the nutrient timing of these patients. This data will help inform the study design and intervention of the next, larger scaled trial. Results: The scoping review found that one dietary intervention did not improve or maintain physical function. Another diet-only intervention was associated with the maintenance of physical function. Among 30 exercise-only interventions, 22 improved physical function, five maintained it, one slowed the rate of functional decline, and two found a decline regardless of the intervention. Among eight combined exercise and diet interventions, four improved physical function, three maintained physical function, and one found that exercise was positively associated with physical function and that physical function was inversely associated with symptom severity. The exercise timing feasibility study is still ongoing, but preliminary results pertaining to nutrient timing reveal that 13 of the 23 participants enrolled so far withdrew from the study. Ten of these were participant withdrawals, while three were withdrawn by the study. Six participants have completed the study so far. Self-reported data of their meal timing and sleep length during the study revealed a mean and median of 12 hours for weekday overnight fast (range: 9-15 hours). Their weekend overnight fast was a mean of 12.2 and a median of 12.5 (range 8-15 hours). Their weekday sleep length was a mean and median of nine iv hours (range 8-11 hours). Their weekend sleep length was a mean of 10 hours and a median of nine hours (range 8-15 hours). |
