weight bearing exercise in preventing frailty in stage i-iiia breast cancer survivors

Conditions: Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Anatomic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Cancer Survivor; Overweight; Postmenopausal; Prognostic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIB Breast Cancer AJCC v8; Prognostic Stage IIIA Breast Cancer AJCC v8

Summary: this trial studies how well weight bearing exercise works in preventing frailty in stage i-iiia breast cancer survivors. weight bearing exercise, including muscle-strengthening, aerobic, flexibility, and balance exercises, can decrease fat and increase muscle, which may lead to reduced frailty.

primary objectives: i. demonstrate reproducibility of forearm muscle activation and subcutaneous fat measures in a healthy convenience sample/population (n= 10). ii. demonstrate that measures of muscle activation and signal attenuation by subcutaneous fat mass can be conducted in a systematic and reproducible fashion in breast cancer survivors prior to and following weight bearing exercise training. iii. in a cross sectional analysis, describe the level of lean muscle mass, muscle activation, strength, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines and growth factors, and inter-individual variability in breast cancer survivors prior to training. iv. describe the level of lean muscle mass, muscle activation, strength, insulin resistance, inflammatory cytokines (such as il-6, crp and others), and growth factors (such as myostatin, igf-1, igfbp-3 and others) in breast cancer survivors following weight bearing exercise training. v. evaluate the influence of genetic variability on response to prescribed training in breast cancer survivors. outline: participants undergo a weight bearing exercise program in a group 2 days a week and at home 5 days a week for 8 weeks.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * post-menopausal (12 months without menstrual period: naturally, surgically, by hormone suppression). * history of early stage breast cancer (stage i, ii, iiia). * at least 6 months from chemotherapy. * may be receiving hormonal therapy during the study. * currently disease-free, including a negative mammogram within 1 year. * body mass index (bmi) between 25 and 40kg/m\^2. * in general good health with no acute or chronic disease that could worsen with weight bearing exercise. * not currently on a prescribed diet nor reporting weight loss of \> 10 pounds (lbs) in previous 3 months. * not currently participating in physical activity (pa) independently or a structured program (performing \< 120 min of low-intensity, low-impact exercise per week; and no weightlifting or similar physical activity). * ability to participate in physical activity, not limited by severe disability (e.g., severe arthritic conditions); chronic back pain, or history or presence of diseases for which increased physical activity would not be advised. * no severe chronic disease, other than breast cancer (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome \[hiv/aids\], kidney failure, liver failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, alzheimer?s, unstable angina, uncontrolled asthma, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension). * no implanted cardiac pacemaker, cardiac defibrillator, or other implanted electronic medical equipment. * no history of drug or alcohol abuse. * able to remain in a lying or sitting position for an extended period (\> 30 minutes). * no history or presence of a significant psychiatric disorder or any other condition that would interfere with participation in the trial. * medical clearance by treating physician. * willing to discontinue nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (nsaid) use, except tylenol and baby aspirin (80mg), 1 week prior to blood draws. * willing to maintain body weight during the study. * can be reached by telephone. * willing to complete consent process and sign informed consent form.