Conclusions : The available literature suggests that African American breast cancer survivors adhere to interventions of various modalities and are capable of making modest to significant changes .
Background : African American breast cancer survivors have a higher incidence of estrogen receptor negative and basal-like ( e.g. , triple negative ) tumors , placing them at greater risk for poorer survival when compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups .
While access to equitable care , late disease stage at diagnosis , tumor biology , and sociodemographic characteristics contribute to health disparities , poor lifestyle characteristics ( i.e. , inactivity , obesity , and poor diet ) contribute equally to these disparities .
Lifestyle interventions hold promise in shielding African American survivors from second cancers , comorbidities , and premature mortality , but they are often underrepresented in studies promoting positive behaviors .
This review examined the available literature to document health behaviors and lifestyle intervention ( i.e. , obesity , physical activity , and sedentary behavior ) studies in African American breast cancer survivors .
A pilot randomized controlled trial of a commercial diet and exercise weight loss program in minority breast cancer survivors.
OBJECTIVE Obesity is associated with poorer breast cancer outcomes and losing weight postdiagnosis may improve survival . As Hispanic and black women have poorer breast cancer prognosis than non-Hispanic whites diagnosed at similar age and stage , and have higher rates of obesity , effective weight loss strategies are needed . We piloted a r and omized , waitlist-controlled , crossover study to examine the effects and feasibility of the commercial Curves weight loss program among Hispanic , African American and Afro-Caribbean breast cancer survivors . DESIGN AND METHODS Women with stage 0-IIIa breast cancer ≥ 6 months posttreatment , sedentary , and BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2 ) were r and omized to the immediate arm ( IA ) : 6 months of the Curves program followed by 6 months of observation ; or the waitlist control arm ( WCA ) : 6 months of observation followed by 6 months of the Curves program . The Curves program uses a 30-min exercise circuit and a high-vegetable/low-fat/calorie-restricted diet . RESULTS A total of 42 women enrolled ( 79 % Hispanic , 21 % black ) , mean age 51 ( range 32 - 69 ) and mean BMI 33.2(± 5.9 ) kg/m(2 ) ; 91 % were retained at month 12 . At month 6 , women in the IA lost an average 3.3 % ( ± 3.5 % ) of body weight ( range : 1.7 % gain to 10.6 % loss ) , as compared with 1.8 % ( ± 2.9 % ) weight loss in the WCA ( P = 0.04 ) . At month 12 , on average women in the IA regained some but not all of the weight lost during the first 6 months ( P = 0.02 ) . CONCLUSIONS Minority breast cancer survivors were recruited and retained in a weight loss study . Six months of the Curves program result ed in moderate weight loss , but weight loss was not maintained postintervention . Future interventions should identify methods to increase uptake and maintenance of weight loss behaviors
Conclusions : The available literature suggests that African American breast cancer survivors adhere to interventions of various modalities and are capable of making modest to significant changes .
Background : African American breast cancer survivors have a higher incidence of estrogen receptor negative and basal-like ( e.g. , triple negative ) tumors , placing them at greater risk for poorer survival when compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups .
While access to equitable care , late disease stage at diagnosis , tumor biology , and sociodemographic characteristics contribute to health disparities , poor lifestyle characteristics ( i.e. , inactivity , obesity , and poor diet ) contribute equally to these disparities .
Lifestyle interventions hold promise in shielding African American survivors from second cancers , comorbidities , and premature mortality , but they are often underrepresented in studies promoting positive behaviors .
This review examined the available literature to document health behaviors and lifestyle intervention ( i.e. , obesity , physical activity , and sedentary behavior ) studies in African American breast cancer survivors .