The impact of maximal strength training on quality of life among women with breast cancer undergoing treatment.

Cancer rehabilitation programs mainly involve endurance cardio training while little attention has been paid to strength training. Breast cancer (BC) patients lose muscle strength while undergoing adjuvant treatment, thus affecting daily activities and quality of life. Maximal strength training, with an emphasis on velocity in the concentric phase, improves maximal strength and muscle force development characteristics. However, the effect of maximal strength training on quality of life for BC patients undergoing treatment remains elusive. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of maximal strength training in Health related quality of life in women with newly diagnosed BC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 55 BC patients with disease stage I-III were randomized into a training group and control group. The training group performed maximal strength training twice a week for 3 months, whereas the control group followed prescribed treatment without strength training. Overall quality of life was measured by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of life Questionnaire-C30 and additional BC module BR23 before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The results obtained from pre-tests and those obtained after 3 months of intervention revealed that patients in the training group significantly increased one repetion maximum, by 20.4 kg (20%) (p = 0.001, d = 0.9). Simultaneously, statistically significant alterations were observed in this variable for the control group, one repetition maximum decreased by 8.9 kg (9%) (p = 0.001, d = 0.5). The overall quality of life improved significantly by 13% for the training group with large effect (p = 0.002, d = 0.6), but no relevant changes were observed in the control group (p = 0.44, d = 0.2). Results revealed remarkable changes in overall quality of life after 3-month post-test period between the two groups with large effect (p = 0.002, d = 0.9). The training sessions had helped in diminishing the sense of fatigue by 24% (p = 0.03, d = 0.6), while it had got worse by 25% (p = 0.02, d = 0.4) for the control group. Again, the data on large effect were noticed to differ between the groups (p = 0.01, d = 0.6). CONCLUSION: Maximal strength training for BC patients was well tolerated, safe and feasible and showed strength improvements that led to improved muscle strength and improved overall quality of life. These data certainly support the therapeutic role for maximal strength training in the treatment of BC.

Surgical treatment of gastric cancer in Latvia: results of centralized experience.

BACKGROUND: Although the mortality for gastric cancer is decreasing in Western Europe and United States, it still remains high in Eastern Europe. This study was aimed at evaluating short- and long-term results of surgical treatment of gastric cancer performed in Latvia Oncology Center. METHODS: Retrospectively collected data from 461 patients who underwent gastrectomy with curative intent in Latvia Oncology Center from January 2001 to December 2005 were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: An average (range) of 92.2 (81-102) R0-R1 gastrectomies was performed each year. Post-operative complications occurred in 75 patients (16.3%); in-hospital mortality was 3.3%. The overall 5-year survival was 50.8%. In 444 cases (96.3%) there was histopathologic confirmation of R0-resection with a 5-year survival of 52.5% (P<0.001). Considering pT category, 5-year survival was 88.6% for pT1 patients, 65% for pT2, 42.3% for pT3 and 27% for pT4 (P<0.001). Considering pN category, 5-year survival was 67% for pN0 patients, 30% for pN1 and 29% for pN2-3 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Clinico-pathologic characteristics of patients who underwent resection with curative intent are comparable to other Western experiences. Short- as well as long-term results are also similar if not for pN+ patients where no difference between pN1 and pN2 cases was observed.