Aerobic fitness values were generally below average , although 6-minute walk time was closer to population norms .
Upper and lower extremity strength was lower than population norms for women who were currently receiving cancer treatment .
Lower extremity strength was above population norms for women who had completed treatment .
Aerobic capacity and upper extremity strength in women diagnosed with breast cancer are generally lower than population norms .
QUESTION What are typical values of physical function for women diagnosed with breast cancer and how do these compare to normative data ?
A prospective study of cardiorespiratory fitness and breast cancer mortality.
PURPOSE Physical activity may protect against  breast cancer . Few prospect i ve studies have evaluated breast cancer mortality in relation to cardiorespiratory fitness ( CRF ) , an objective marker of physiologic response to physical activity habits . METHODS We examined the association between CRF and risk of death from breast cancer  in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study . Women ( N = 14,811 ) , aged 20 to 83 yr with no prior breast cancer history , received a preventive medical examination at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas , Texas , between 1970 and 2001 . Mortality surveillance was completed through December 31 , 2003 . CRF was quantified as maximal treadmill exercise test duration and was categorized for analysis as low ( lowest 20 % of exercise duration ) , moderate ( middle 40 % ) , and high ( upper 40 % ) . At baseline , all participants were able to complete the exercise test to at least 85 % of their age-predicted maximal heart rate . RESULTS A total of 68 breast cancer deaths occurred during follow-up ( mean = 16 yr ) . Age-adjusted breast cancer mortality rates per 10,000 woman-years were 4.4 , 3.2 , and 1.8 for low , moderate , and high CRF groups , respectively ( trend P = 0.008 ) . After further controlling for body mass index , smoking , drinking , chronic conditions , abnormal exercise ECG responses , family history of breast cancer , oral contraceptive use , and estrogen use , hazard ratios ( 95 % CI ) for breast cancer mortality across incremental CRF categories were 1.00 ( referent ) , 0.67 ( 0.35 - 1.26 ) , and 0.45 ( 0.22 - 0.95 ) ( trend P = 0.04 ) . CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that CRF is associated with a reduced risk of dying from breast cancer in women
Aerobic fitness values were generally below average , although 6-minute walk time was closer to population norms .
Upper and lower extremity strength was lower than population norms for women who were currently receiving cancer treatment .
Lower extremity strength was above population norms for women who had completed treatment .
Aerobic capacity and upper extremity strength in women diagnosed with breast cancer are generally lower than population norms .
QUESTION What are typical values of physical function for women diagnosed with breast cancer and how do these compare to normative data ?