Beneficial Effect of Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

The Improvement of the Quality of Life and Exercise Capacity Through Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

It is important for clinicians to maintain and support for exercise capacity and quality of life of lung cancer patients after radiation therapy, because radiation therapy also affect the lung function and general conditions of patients. The effect and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation is well-proven in various diseases. Because there is no standard treatment, the investigators will perform this study to clearly prove the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in lung cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

Roles of the radiation therapy in lung cancer are as followings; 1) to treat the lung caner stage 1 ~2 patients, who are inadequate for operation due to declined lung function, 2) to treat the locally advanced and inoperable stage 3 patients with concurrent chemotherapy, and 3) to palliatively treat the stage 4 patient. However, it is also possible that radiation therapy worsens the general weakness and lung function, although the degree of deterioration was generally less than lung resection. Therefore, it is crucial for clinicians to maintain and support for exercise capacity and quality of life of lung cancer patients after radiation therapy.

The effect and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation is well-proven in various diseases. Investigators presented a retrospective study about the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in patients receiving radiation therapy, which showed less decreased lung function, less radiation related pneumonitis, and decreased mortality. Investigators will perform this study to clearly prove the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in lung cancer patients receiving radiation therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Lung cancer patients with scheduled radiation therapy (postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and concurrent chemoradiation therapy) during more than 4 weeks (5 times a week, 20 times a week)
• Lung parenchymal cancer
• Consent to regular outpatient-based pulmonary rehabilitation program, considering residence and other factors.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Communication restrictions
• Failed to obtain consent form
• Accompanied by psychiatric problems or severe dizziness
• Patients have comorbidities, which are regarded as contraindications of pulmonary rehabilitation, such as severe pulmonary hypertension or hemodynamic instability