ABSTRACT
Objective
A comparative analysis of the association between sedentary behavior versus physical activity levels and tumor staging in women with breast cancer.
Methods
The present research adopted a cross-sectional study design to recruit a total of 55 adult and elderly women newly diagnosed with breast cancer for data collection and analysis. Inclusion criteria involved patients in procession of a formal approval for participation in the study by the treating physician and those not hitherto subjected to the first cycle of chemotherapy.
Results
Physical activity levels did not influence the pathological stage of breast cancer (p=0.26) or histological tumor grade (p=0.07) in the analyzed subjects. However, there was a significant association between physical activity levels and responsiveness to hormones (epidermal growth factor receptor (HER2), p<0.05) in the analyzed subjects. Significant difference was detected in the histological tumor grade in relation to the mean time spent sitting during the weekend (p<0.05). However, sedentary behavior had no influence on the tumor stage (p>0.05).
Conclusion
Physical activity levels did not influence the tumor stage and histological tumor grade. Sedentary behavior had a significant influence on the histological tumor grade.
Sedentary behavior; Exercise; Breast neoplasms; Neoplasm staging; Sitting position
Highlights
■ Physical activity level is associated with responsiveness to hormones in women with breast cancer.
■ Sedentary behavior is significantly related to the histological tumor grade in women with breast cancer.