Two areas of survivorship that have been addressed by recent studies include the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise and the management of hot flashes.

To address the effects of aerobic exercise on quality of life, researchers in the U.K. conducted a study among 108 women who were one to three years beyond the end of breast carcinoma treatment.[2] Prior to the study, none of the women engaged in regular physical activity.

Study participants were assigned to one of the three groups: 1) supervised aerobic exercise therapy (moderate-intensity exercise lasting for 50 minutes, three times per week); 2) exercise placebo (light-intensity body conditioning and stretching lasting for 50 minutes, three times per week); or 3) usual care (no exercise intervention).

Compared to the women in the usual care group, women in the aerobic exercise group reported significantly better quality of life. Psychological health outcomes were modestly improved in women in the two intervention groups (aerobic exercise and exercise-placebo) compared to women in the usual care group.

The researchers conclude, 鈥淓xercise therapy had large, clinically meaningful, short-term beneficial effects on [quality of life] in women treated for breast carcinoma.鈥?Women who are considering an exercise program are encouraged to talk with their physician about the safest and most effective approach.

In a second study, researchers from Germany conducted a clinical trial to compare two approaches to the management of hot flashes in women with breast carcinoma.[3]

Hot flashes are common in breast carcinoma survivors, and may occur as a result of natural menopause or carcinoma treatment. Given concerns about the safety of postmenopausal hormone therapy, there is a need for alternative approaches to treating hot flashes in women with breast carcinoma.

The current study involved 64 women with breast carcinoma who suffered from hot flashes at least twice daily. Women were treated with either Effexor庐 (venlafaxine; an antidepressant medication) or Catapres庐 (clonidine; a high blood pressure medication that is sometimes used to treat hot flashes).

Hot flashes were reduced by nearly eight episodes per day in patients treated with Effexor and by nearly five episodes per day in patients treated with Catapres.

The researchers concluded that the antidepressant agent Effexor significantly reduces the frequency of hot flashes compared with Catapres among patients with breast carcinoma who suffer from at least two hot-flash episodes daily. However, the search continues for the optimal treatment of women who experience hot flashes as a side effect of breast carcinoma treatment. There now appear to be a growing number of drugs that are reasonably effective at reducing hot flashes among these patients.

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