Endometrial cancer patients' assessment of the benefits of exercise.

Endometrial cancer patients' assessment of the benefits of exercise.

Gil K M; Basen-Engquist K; Lukowski J; Detterman D; Hopkins M P; Jenison E L

Journal of Clinical Oncology

2009

2009-05-21

e20553 Background: Endometrial cancer patients remain at risk for other obesity related cancers and illnesses. Patients should be counseled to increase their physical activity, however, their belief concerning potential outcomes of exercise will affect how they are counseled.Methods: Patients treated for Stage I endometrial cancer with no other cancer diagnoses were asked if they had been exercising regularly for more than 6 months using the CDC definition of exercise (exercisers), how likely they thought regular exercise would result in health related outcomes (see Table ) and how important these outcomes are to them using Likert-like scales ranging from 1 to 5. A weighed calculation of how likely regular exercise would result in an outcome of importance to them was obtained by multiplying the two scores. Chi-square and t-tests were used to analyze data with SPSS V15.Results: 76 of 90 women approached completed the questionnaire (84%), mean age was 59.5 ± 1.1 (SEM). 45% were exercisers, their mean BMI was lower (31.2 ± 1.2 vs. 38.0 ± 1.4, p=0.001) and a non significantly lower proportion reported having diabetes (15% vs 26%) or hypertension (26% vs 43%). The majority of all women believed regular exercise would result in positive outcomes; a lower proportion of exercisers reported it very to extremely likely that regular exercise would reduce the risk of developing cancer (27% vs 54%, p=0.023) or osteoporosis (46% vs 73%, p=0.019). The majority reported these outcomes were very to extremely important to them; a lower proportion of exercisers reported reducing the risk of developing a new cancer or diabetes were (cancer 79% vs 98%, p=0.013; diabetes 78% vs 100%, p=0.003). Both groups believed feeling better physically and emotionally were important and likely consequences of exercise; exercisers were less likely to believe several other outcomes were important and likely consequences ( Table ).Conclusions: Women who exercise regularly and develop cancer may become disillusioned with the potential health benefits of exercise despite having improved health. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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