Psychophysical health status of breast cancer survivors and effects of 12 weeks of aerobic training

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the health status of breast cancer survivors and the effects of 12 weeks of aerobic training. Twenty-three breast cancer survivors (51.71 ± 3.17 years) and 23 healthy women (50.73 ± 2.97 years) were investigated for body composition, daily physical activity, quality of life, salivary cortisol, and DHEA-S. Breast cancer survivors were then aerobically trained for 12 weeks. Breast cancer survivors have a worse psychophysical health than healthy women. Aerobic training increased salivary DHEA-S, aerobic fitness, self-reported health, and nocturnal sleeping time and reduced salivary cortisol in breast cancer survivors. Salivary cortisol variation correlated with change of sleeping time and self-reported health. Salivary DHEA-S correlated with change of self-reported physical pain and general health as well. Breast cancer survivors can live in a situation of continuous distress, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Twelve weeks of aerobic training improve the psychophysical health of breast cancer survivors.