Abstract C108: Evaluating the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in a diverse sample of breast cancer survivors with lymphedema
Authors: Burse Natasha R. , Lehman Erik , Chinchilli Vernon M. , Cuffee Yendelela L. , Wray Linda A. , Lengerich Eugene J. , Schmitz Kathryn H. 
Published: January 2023

Abstract
Background: Compared with White breast cancer survivors, Black breast cancer survivors are more likely to experience adverse cancer treatment effects (e.g., pain and swelling from lymphedema) and suboptimal quality of life. Aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Physical activity has been documented to improve quality of life in predominantly White cancer survivors. However, little is known about the benefits of physical activity on quality of life among Black breast cancer survivors. In addition, there is limited evidence on the link between physical activity and quality of life over time by race in breast cancer survivors. Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of physical activity on quality of life (social wellbeing, emotional/mental wellbeing, and relationship and body image) in White and Black breast cancer survivors with lymphedema. Methods: Linear mixed effects models were tested on an existing data source in a subset of participants in the control and exercise group of a 12-month completed randomized clinical trial. Results: There were 173 participants included in this analysis, averaging 59 years of age; about 33% of the participants were Black women. There were no significant differences in the quality of life outcomes between the control and exercise groups at 12 months. Exercise improved emotional/mental wellbeing and body image as it relates to social barriers at 12 months in Black and White breast cancer survivors, but the changes in these outcomes over time were only statistically significant in White breast cancer survivors (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Results show that physical activity can improve certain domains of quality of life (e.g., emotional/mental wellbeing) over time in Black breast cancer survivors. However, the significance of the effect on quality of life (e.g., emotional/mental wellbeing) was isolated to White breast cancer survivors. After further analysis, the effects on quality of life are likely to be significant in a larger sample of Black women. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Physical activity can be used as a non-pharmaceutical intervention to enhance quality of life among subgroups of breast cancer survivors, possibly including Black women.
Citation Format: Natasha R. Burse, Erik Lehman, Vernon M. Chinchilli, Yendelela L. Cuffee, Linda A. Wray, Eugene J. Lengerich, Kathryn H. Schmitz. Evaluating the relationship between physical activity and quality of life in a diverse sample of breast cancer survivors with lymphedema [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 15th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2022 Sep 16-19; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2022;31(1 Suppl):Abstract nr C108.