The effect of exercise intervention for adults undergoing treatment for breast cancer

INTERVENTION: The intervention will involve a state‐of‐the‐art exercise program, with individual and periodized rehabilitation prescription, with adherence monitoring and regular one‐on‐one support to aid compliance. We refer to this as our “SMART” exercise intervention (Self‐Determined, Monitored Adaptable Rehabilitation with Telehealth support). Individuals will be supported to build up or maintain a target exercise goal of 150 mins moderate intensity exercise per week (inclusive of 2 resistance sessions) as informed by guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine for exercise and cancer. The intervention will run over a 16 week period. The target behaviour of the SMART program is for participants to work towards or maintain 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise (or 75 minutes per week of vigorous intensity exercise) including two resistance training sessions per week. Moderate intensity exercise will be defined as exercise performed at 60 to 75% of their age predicted maximum heart rate. Vigorous intensity exercise will be defined exercise performed at > 75% of their age predicted maximum heart rate. Resistance training session will encompass the major muscle groups and will be defined as completion of 3 sets of 8‐12 repetitions of strength‐based or functional tasks (for example, sit to stand, bicep curls, squats). The goal will be to report an intensity that is perceived a 15 (‘hard’) on the 6 to 20 Rating of Perceived Exertion. Intensity will be progressed by increasing the resistance and/or to a more challenging movement pattern. It has been mentioned that side effects relating to breast cancer (BC) treatments are expected to lead to deterioration in physical capacity, as well as associated side effects including but not limited to nausea, dizz CONDITION: Breast cancer; ; Breast cancer Cancer ‐ Breast PRIMARY OUTCOME: Quality of life[EORTC Quality of Life C30 questionnaire with the breast cancer specific BR45 module The primary outcomes will be assessed at the following time points:; ‐Baseline; ‐Mid intervention (8 weeks following baseline); ‐End of intervention (16 weeks following baseline); ‐Long term assessment: (1 year following baseline)] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Absenteeism from work[The Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire ‐Baseline ; ‐Mid intervention (8 weeks following baseline) ; ‐End of intervention (16 weeks following baseline) ; ‐Long term assessment: (1 year following baseline)] Chemotherapy completion rates[Chemotherapy completion (% of planned treatment) will be collected from individual patient medical records. End of chemotherapy treatment date] INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults will be eligible to participate if they meet the following criteria: 1. Adult with newly diagnosed breast cancer 2. Breast cancer stage I‐III (i.e. non metastatic stages) 3. Planned treatment includes neo‐adjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy AND/OR endocrine therapy