Research

Recent research has shown significant benefits arise from exercise after breast cancer;

Impact of exercise on survival rates

Holmes et al 2005 in Journal of American Medical Association May 2005 undertook the first major study into impact of exercise on survival rates

• American observational study of 2,987 women
• Any amount of exercise (even walking 1 hour per week) increased the odds of surviving
• Compared with physically inactive women, those engaging in moderate exercise 3-5 hours per week lowered their risk of death by around 50%
• Greatest benefit found for women whose tumours are hormone receptor positive
• After 10 years the reduction in absolute unadjusted risk of dying from breast cancer was reduced by 6% for women exercising moderately more than 3hrs per week

Impact of YWCA Encore on participants

A recent independent research study by NSW Breast Cancer Institute which ran a controlled trial of 160 women showed that YWCA Encore had a positive impact on the following measures:

• Overall quality of life (physical & functional wellbeing as well as specific breast cancer concerns)
• Beliefs about self regulatory ability (ability to maintain exercise and healthy lifestyle independently
• Higher awareness about lymphoedema
• Increased internal HLOC (Health locus of Control - i.e. belief that I am in control of my own health)

Current Pilot Research Study

A pilot research project is currently underway in conjunction with the Lymphoedema Clinic at Flinders Medical Centre, measuring the effect of participation in the YWCA Encore program on lymphoedema, the range of movement and overall quality of life. This project will be completed in 2007.

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