Every Day Counts: a randomized pilot lifestyle intervention for women with metastatic breast cancer

Purpose To explore the feasibility, adherence, safety and potential efficacy of Every Day Counts ; a randomized pilot trial designed for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) framed by the American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity (PA) guidelines Methods Women with clinically stable MBC were recruited to complete an interview, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry imaging and phlebotomy at baseline and post-intervention. Multidimensional quality of life, symptom burden, lifestyle behaviors (nutrition and PA) and biomarkers of prognosis were procured and quantified. Women were randomized to the immediate intervention or a waitlist control arm. The 12-week intervention included a curriculum binder, lifestyle coaching (in-person and telephone-based sessions) and intervention support (activity monitor, text messaging, cooking classes.) Women in the waitlist control were provided monthly text messaging. Results Forty women were recruited within 9 months (feasibility). Women in the immediate intervention attended 86% of all 12 weekly coaching sessions (adherence) and showed significant improvements in general QOL ( p = 0.001), and QOL related to breast cancer ( p = 0.001), endocrine symptoms ( p = 0.002) and fatigue ( p = 0.037), whereas the waitlist control did not (all p values ≥ 0.05) (efficacy). PA significantly increased for women in the intervention compared to control ( p