Many women do not exercise enough after breast cancer surgery, according to research conducted at the University of North Carolina. The study, published in the journal Cancer, surveyed 1,735 U.S. women aged 20-74 who were diagnosed with breast cancer from 2008-2011.
Guidelines set in place by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise per week. Just 35 percent of the study's population met these goals.
"Medical care providers should discuss the role physical activity plays in improving breast cancer outcomes with their patients, and strategies that may be successful in increasing physical activity among breast cancer patients need to be comprehensively evaluated and implemented," said lead author Brionna Hair.
The American Cancer Society recommends beginning a routine in a supervised setting with a cancer exercise trainer or physical therapist.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com