Exercise Program of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation

A Feasibility Study of the Effects of a Directed Exercise Program of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation

The purpose of this study is to study if a patients follows an exercise program specifically designed for them during the time of their treatment after surgery. Their ability to follow the program and its influence on their weight maintenance and early post-operative lymphedema rates will also be studied. Lymphedema is a condition in which excess fluid collects in tissue and causes swelling of the arm(s).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be eligible if they have any of the following surgical procedures performed by an attending on the Breast Service:

SLNB alone Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) alone Total Mastectomy TM (+/- reconstruction) with SLNB or ALND Breast conserving therapy (BCT) with SLNB or ALND

• Age > 18 years
• Planned to undergo adjuvant post-operative chemotherapy with or without radiation at MSKCC and have not yet started chemotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Undergoing TM or BCT without SLNB
• Having had prior breast cancer treated with surgery
• Unable to participate in a exercise program related to other medical problems
• More than 8 weeks post surgery.
• Having a concurrent cancer in addition to breast cancer
• Who have had any type of chemotherapy in the past two years