Abstract A21: Exercising our AABCs: A community-based pilot intervention in African American breast cancer survivors (AABCs)

African-American (AA) women have higher rates of breast cancer (BRCA) mortality than Caucasian women and, this disparity is even greater in certain local communities including Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Randomized control trials involving supervised aerobic and resistance training exercise have shown improved body composition and quality of life (QoL) in BRCA patients; however, most studies have focused on Caucasian women and many have been conducted in clinic-based settings. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a 20-week, supervised, resistance training, group exercise intervention coupled with a support group program and home walking program utilizing facilities and personnel at a community cancer support center (The Gathering Place, Beachwood, Ohio) in 18 AA Stage I-III BRCA survivors who were within 12 months of completing treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation). On average, the patients were 56.4 ± 10.8 years old and had a baseline BMI of 32.5 ± 6.3 kg/m2. Attendance rates were 70.0 ± 19.1% for the exercise sessions and 63.1 ± 13.8% for the support group. We found a post-treatment decrease in waist circumference (Baseline (B):93.7 ± 14.1 cm; End of Treatment (EOT): 92.0 ± 14.0 cm; p=0.02) and total body fat (B: 45.4 ± 7.1%; EOT: 44.1 ± 7.9%; p=0.01) and an increase in lean mass (B: 42.4 ± 4.4 kg; EOT: 43.2 ± 4.8 kg; p=0.02) among those who attended 70% or more of the sessions (n=12). We also found a clinically relevant improvement in overall QoL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) scale (B: 101.1 ± 21.5; EOT: 108.6 ± 19.8; p=0.05). Our preliminary results demonstrate that conducting lifestyle interventions in AA BRCA survivors in a community setting is feasible. Future interventions should include strategies to enhance adherence and include dietary and supervised aerobic exercise components to enable greater weight loss. Citation Format: Nora L. Nock, Cynthia Owusu, Emily S. Kullman, Kris Austin, Beth Roth, Carl Harmon, Stephen Cerne, Halle Moore, Paul Hergenroeder, Mary Vargo, Hermione Malone, Michael Rocco, Hillard M. Lazarus, John P. Kirwan, Ellen Heyman, Nathan A. Berger. Exercising our AABCs: A community-based pilot intervention in African American breast cancer survivors (AABCs). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Ep