This study aimed to assess the levels of physical activity (PA) and functional capacity of breast cancer patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
The investigation comprises a prospective cohort study including women 18 years or older who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer at a single oncology centre between 4 April 2016 and 31 October 2018. Patients were evaluated in terms of self-reported PA levels and physical capacity using the following physical tests: handgrip strength, sitting and standing up in 30 s and stationary walking for 2 min. Variables were compared before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy using the Wilcoxon test.
A total of 440 women were analysed, 88.2% of whom presented at an advanced clinical stage. The mean age of the patients was 51.0 years (±11.0), 68.0% were non-white and 53.9% were not working at the time of diagnosis. Decreased PA levels and handgrip strength (p<0.002) were observed following chemotherapy, although no changes in aerobic capacity and lower limb resistance (LLR) were noted (p=0.595 and p=0.163, respectively).
Women with breast cancer exhibit decreased PA levels and handgrip strength following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, although no alterations in aerobic capacity and LLR were observed at the end of treatment.