The effect of breast cancer patients' physical activity levels on their symptoms and quality of life

Purpose: This study was planned to determine the effect of physical activity levels to symptoms and quality of life with breast cancer patients. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in the Chemotherapy Unit of Akdeniz University's Hospital from September 2015 to June 2016. In total, 128 individuals who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The study data were collected using a patient introduction form, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, the EORTC-QLQ C30Quality of Life Scale and the EORTC QLQ- BR23 Quality of Life Scale. The study data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. The analysis was conducted using means, standard deviations, numbers, percentages, the Shapiro-Wilk test, the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis variance analysis and pearson correlation analysis. Findings: Of the patients, 53.9% were aged between 46 and 60, and their average age was 52.21±8.93 years. On average, the patients were diagnosed with breast cancer 30.91±37 months before the study, and 41.4% of them were in the second stage of the disease. Of them, 10.1% had received chemotherapy only, while 25% had received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted treatment and surgical treatment. This study found that 32.8% of the patients were active at a low level, while 35.94% were moderately active, and 31.2% were highly active. There was a negative correlation between the patients' International Physical Activity Questionnaire scores and scores on EORTC-QLQ C30for general symptoms, fatigue, pain, labored breathing, lack of sleep, loss of appetite (p<0.01). On the other hand, there was a positive correlation between their scores on functional health, occupational function, social function and general health (p<0.05). Result: This study found that patients with high and moderate physical activity levels had fewer symptoms, and their functional status and general quality of life were much better.