Assessing the Effect of an Aerobic Exercise Program on Vascular Function in Women With Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer

Assessing the Effect of an Aerobic Exercise Program on Vascular Function in Women With Non-Metastatic Breast Cancer

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the feasibility of an 8-week aerobic exercise program and its effect on arterial function in breast cancer survivors.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is an 8-week aerobic exercise program feasible in breast cancer survivors after the completion of chemotherapy?
• Is this 8-week aerobic exercise program beneficial for vascular function in breast cancer survivors?

Participants will:

• Begin an 8-week aerobic exercise program, three days per week, after the completion of chemotherapy.
• Visit our facility three times before the exercise program, 1 month after, and after the completion of the program.
• Complete questionnaires, physical functional tests, and body composition and vascular measurements at every visit.

Inclusion criteria:

1. Women (18-70 years) with a stage I-III breast cancer diagnosis who have completed chemotherapies.
2. Able to begin aerobic exercise within 4 weeks of the final chemotherapy cycle.
3. Sedentary by self-reporting inactivity (<90 min of moderate or vigorous exercise per week)
4. Weight ≤154 kg
5. Willing to complete all study activities
6. Able to safely participate in moderate aerobic exercise.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Current pregnant and lactating patients. Must have completed lactation prior to study start.
2. Metastatic disease.
3. Diagnosed cardiovascular disease prior to the initiation of chemotherapy, as evidenced by cardiomyopathy (reduced regional or global left ventricular contractility), diastolic dysfunction grade 2 or above, symptomatic coronary artery disease, ejection fraction below 50%.
4. History of prior chemotherapy received for other cancer diagnosis.
5. Non-English speaking