PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine if exercise intensity impacts upon the psychosocial responses of breast and prostate @entity5 survivors to a rehabilitation program. METHODS: Eighty-seven prostate and 72 @entity0 survivors participated in an 8-week exercise and supportive group psychotherapy intervention (n   =   84) or control (n   =   75) group. Intervention @entity1 were randomized to low-to-moderate intensity exercise (LIG; n   =   44; 60-65  % VO2peak, 50-65  % one repetition maximum (1RM)) or @entity2101 (HIG; n   =   40; 75-80  % VO2peak, 65-80  % 1RM) while controls continued usual care. Before and after the 8  weeks, all @entity1 completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast or -Prostate to assess quality of life (QOL) and Behavioural Regulations of Exercise Version 2 for exercise motivation. Intervention @entity1 also completed a follow-up assessment 4  months post-intervention. RESULTS: All three groups improved in QOL from baseline to post-intervention, with no significant differences. From post-intervention to follow-up, the LIG and HIG similarly maintained QOL scores. Between baseline and post-intervention, both intervention arms improved their motivation to exercise compared to the controls (p   =   0.004). At the 4-month follow-up, the HIG had maintained their overall exercise motivation (p   <   0.001) and both domains of intrinsic motivation (identified regulation, p   =   0.047; intrinsic regulation, p   =   0.007); however, the LIG had regressed. CONCLUSIONS: The structured intervention was successful at improving autonomous exercise motivation, regardless of exercise intensity. However, only those @entity1 who had exercised at a higher intensity sustained their improvement. Intervention participation did not improve QOL more than controls. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Higher-intensity exercise is more likely to result in more sustainable increases in motivation to exercise among @entity5 survivors.

Higher-intensity exercise helps XXXX survivors remain motivated.

@entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['cancer'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants'] @entity2101 :: ('MESH:C538394', 'Disease') :: ['moderate-to-high intensity exercise'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer']
@entity5 :: (MESH:D009369,Disease) :: ['cancer']
