Exercise despite pain – breast cancer patient experiences of muscle and joint pain during adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent participation in an exercise intervention

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exercise despite pain – breast cancer patient experiences of muscle and joint pain during adjuvant chemotherapy and concurrent participation in an exercise intervention

AU - Andersen, Christina

AU - Rørth, M

AU - Ejlertsen, B

AU - Adamsen, L

N1 - © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2014/9

Y1 - 2014/9

N2 - Chemotherapy-related pain is a well-known side effect in cancer patient receiving chemotherapy. However, limited knowledge exists describing whether exercise exacerbates existing pain. Aim of the research was to explore muscle and joint pain experienced by women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel and factor support and concurrently participating in an exercise intervention. The study used individual semi-structured interviews (pre- and post-intervention). Fifteen women were interviewed. The multimodal group intervention comprised supervised training: high-intensity cardiovascular, heavy resistance and relaxation, massage and body-awareness (9 h weekly, 6 weeks). The analysis revealed five categories: Abrupt pain - a predominant side effect, cogitated pain management, the adapted training, non-immediate exacerbation of pain and summarised into the essence of chemotherapy related muscle and joint pain in exercise breast cancer patients; exercise despite pain. Findings indicate that the patients' perception of sudden onset of chemotherapy-related muscle and joint pain was not aggravated by training. Pain intensity peaked between 2 and 9 days after chemotherapy and is described to be stabbing pain with a feeling of restlessness in the body. The patients demonstrated a high adherence rate to the exercise intervention caused by their own willpower and camaraderie of the group.

AB - Chemotherapy-related pain is a well-known side effect in cancer patient receiving chemotherapy. However, limited knowledge exists describing whether exercise exacerbates existing pain. Aim of the research was to explore muscle and joint pain experienced by women with breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel and factor support and concurrently participating in an exercise intervention. The study used individual semi-structured interviews (pre- and post-intervention). Fifteen women were interviewed. The multimodal group intervention comprised supervised training: high-intensity cardiovascular, heavy resistance and relaxation, massage and body-awareness (9 h weekly, 6 weeks). The analysis revealed five categories: Abrupt pain - a predominant side effect, cogitated pain management, the adapted training, non-immediate exacerbation of pain and summarised into the essence of chemotherapy related muscle and joint pain in exercise breast cancer patients; exercise despite pain. Findings indicate that the patients' perception of sudden onset of chemotherapy-related muscle and joint pain was not aggravated by training. Pain intensity peaked between 2 and 9 days after chemotherapy and is described to be stabbing pain with a feeling of restlessness in the body. The patients demonstrated a high adherence rate to the exercise intervention caused by their own willpower and camaraderie of the group.

U2 - 10.1111/ecc.12192

DO - 10.1111/ecc.12192

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24750506

SN - 0961-5423

VL - 23

SP - 653

EP - 667

JO - European Journal of Cancer Care

JF - European Journal of Cancer Care

IS - 5

ER -