A new clinical trial conducted in Canada indicates that aerobic exercise can alleviate cognitive impairment, commonly known as "brain fog," in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. The study highlights the potential of exercise as an accessible intervention to improve the quality of life for patients during cancer treatment.
Breast cancer patients who engaged in regular aerobic exercise alongside their chemotherapy sessions reported feeling mentally sharper and experienced a better overall quality of life, according to the research findings.
Study Details and Findings
The study, which involved 57 breast cancer patients in Ottawa and Vancouver, randomly assigned participants to either a 12-week or a 24-week aerobic exercise program concurrent with their chemotherapy treatment. Some women began the exercise regimen at the start of their chemotherapy, while others commenced after completing it.
While objective tests of brain function did not reveal significant differences between the two groups, subjective reports from women participating in aerobics during chemotherapy indicated a perceived improvement in mental clarity and quality of life. The results of this study were published in the journal Cancer.
Expert Perspectives
Jennifer Brunet, a professor of human kinetics at the University of Ottawa and the lead researcher, emphasized the importance of integrating exercise into standard cancer care. "Our findings strengthen the case for making exercise assessment, recommendation, and referral a routine part of cancer care," Brunet stated. "This may help empower women living with and beyond cancer to actively manage both their physical and mental health during and after treatment."
Brunet also called for collaborative efforts to expand exercise options for women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. "To address this, we advocate for collaboration across various sectors—academic, healthcare, fitness, and community—to develop exercise programs specifically designed for women with breast cancer," she noted. "These programs should be easy to adopt and implement widely, helping to make the benefits of exercise more accessible to all women facing the challenges of cancer treatment and recovery."
