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Better after breast cancer.

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Chemo and radiation raise a woman's odds of beating breast cancer. But one of the results of treatment is a feeling of fatigue that can last a long time. Women may say they just can't get their strength back, or they tire faster.

But a researcher at Brown Medical School and the Miriam Hospital in Rhode Island has a way to fight that tired feeling � and it's exercise. With support from the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Bernardine Pinto had early-stage breast cancer survivors do moderate-intensity activity in their home or neighborhood � mostly brisk walking, although a few women biked during the summer.

"They improved their fitness, they improved their physical activity, they also reported less fatigue, higher vigor, and there were also some improvements in their body esteem." (9 seconds)

Pinto says breast cancer survivors ought to consider exercise, especially if they had early stage cancer. She can't say much about the effects among late-stage patients because her study didn't include patients with more advanced disease.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August 16, 2005

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