1060 – Low-intensity exercise during chemotherapy infusion for fatigue, functionality and neuropathy in women with breast cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Chemotherapy for breast cancer, although effective, is associated with significant toxicities such as cancerrelated fatigue and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, which impair functionality and quality of life. Exercise
performed during infusion emerges as a strategic opportunity to mitigate these effects, utilizing a period in which patients
are otherwise inactive.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial included 41 women (G1–Intervention: 18; G2–Control: 23) undergoing treatment
at Hospital de Amor Barretos. G1 performed low-intensity exercise (Borg Scale score 2–3; 30–40% of maximum heart rate)
for 25–30 minutes during infusion. Functionality (using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–IPAQ), fatigue
(using the Fatigue Assessment Scale–FAS), and neuropathy (using the Antineoplastic Induced Neurotoxicity Questionnaire–
AINQ) were assessed at baseline (M1) and after five cycles (M2).
Results: For upper-limb neuropathy, a statistically significant difference was observed (p=0.040), with G2 reaching 34.8%
of cases at the highest severity level (grade 4), compared to only 11.1% in G1. In lower-limb neuropathy, G1 limited severity
to 16.7%, whereas G2 reached 39.1% at M2. Regarding fatigue, G1 demonstrated absolute stability (p=1.000) and a recovery trend, while G2 showed deterioration toward severe fatigue. In terms of functionality, G1 reduced sedentary behavior
from 77.8% to 66.7%, whereas G2 showed an increase in inactivity from 52.2% to 60.9%.
Conclusion: Low-intensity exercise during chemotherapy infusion proved to be a safe and clinically relevant strategy,
associated with attenuation of peripheral neuropathy progression, stabilization of fatigue, and improvement in functionality, representing a promising approach for managing adverse effects in women with breast cancer.
Ethics: Research Ethics Committee Approval (CAAE 82161424.6.0000.5437).
Registry: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), RBR-5dz9yq8.