ASPO Abstracts
Fear of Recurrence and Physical Activity Participation in Breast Cancer Survivors
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication, Survivorship & Health Outcomes/Comparative Effectiveness Research
Conference Year: 2018
Abstract Body:
Background: Emerging evidence indicates moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may be associated with improved disease outcomes (i.e. progression, recurrence, survival) in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Unfortunately, up to 70% are insufficiently active. Few studies have explored fear of cancer recurrence as a motivator for physical activity following cancer. These fears, uniquely experienced by cancer survivors, are important to consider in order to inform effective MVPA interventions tailored for BCS. This study examined the relationship between overall fear of recurrence and specific fears with MVPA. Further, this work assessed potential moderation by demographic and disease characteristics. Methods: Separate regression models examined the relationship between overall fear of recurrence and subscales (Concerns about Recurrence Scale; subscales include concerns related to role, womanhood, health, and death) and Actigraph measured MVPA at 6 months in BCS (n= 375 M age= 56.1 years SD=9.4). All models were adjusted, for self-reported age, race, education, BMI, stage of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment type, total comorbidities, and baseline MVPA. Moderation by demographic and disease characteristics on recurrence fear subscales that were statistically significantly associated with MVPA were also examined. Results: Overall fear of recurrence with 6 month MVPA did not reach statistical significance. However, health (β = 11.39 SE=4.96, p=0.02) and death worries (β = 11.37 SE=3.78, p<0.01) were both associated with MVPA. The interaction (β = -11.81 SE=5.72, p=0.04) between health worries (β = 13.19 SE=5.01, p=0.01) and BMI (β = 19.14 SE=5.7, p=0.17), centered on the mean, on MVPA were significant. Results for the interaction (β = -10.08 SE=4.44, p=0.02) between health worries (β = 25.60 SE=7.97, p<0.01) and stage of diagnosis (β = 12.68 SE=11.41, p=0.27), on MVPA also reached statistical significance. Conclusion: Findings suggest certain fears related to cancer recurrence concerning death and health are associated with MVPA in BCS. Future work should seek to evaluate the potential psychosocial mechanisms between these fears and MVPA resulting in intervention strategies that increase MVPA and lower recurrence fears for a healthier cancer survivorship.
Keywords: physical activity, fear of recurrence, survivorship, breast cancer