Weight Bearing Exercise in Preventing Frailty in Stage I-IIIA Breast Cancer Survivors

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.