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The Exercise for Health program is a telephone-delivered exercise intervention for women with breast cancer (BC) living in regional Queensland. The effect of the program is being evaluated in the context of a randomised controlled trial. Consenting, newly diagnosed BC patients, treated in one of 8 regional Queensland hospitals, were randomly allocated to telephone-based exercise counselling (EC) or usual care (UC) at 6-weeks post-surgery. EC participants received an exercise workbook and 16 calls from an exercise physiologist over 8 months. Physical activity levels (PA) (Active Australia & CHAMPS), quality-of-life (FACTB+4), upper-body function (DASH) and fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) were assessed at baseline (4-6 weeks post-surgery), 6- and 12-months post-surgery. Preliminary analyses of available 6-month data were conducted using t-tests and repeated measures ANCOVAs. Participating women (n=143; EC n=73, UC n=70) were aged 53±9 years and 30% met PA guidelines at baseline. Up to two thirds of the women received adjuvant therapy during the first 6 months following surgery. Greater improvements (mean change+SD) occurred for the EC vs UC group in weekly sessions of walking (1.83±4.3 vs -0.5±5.5, p=0.029) moderate-vigorous PA (5.0±6.5 vs -1.1±6.1, p=0.005) and strength training (1.9±2.9 vs -0.5±4.2 p<0.001), and in upper-body function, reflected by lower log-transformed disability scores (-0.34±0.44 vs -0.17±0.28, p=0.038). More EC than UC participants met PA guidelines at 6 months (46.3% vs 32.7%). Preliminary findings from this ongoing trial suggest that the telephone is a feasible and effective medium for delivering exercise counselling to newly diagnosed BC patients living in regional areas.

In Australia, women with breast cancer comprise one of the largest groups of cancer survivors. As a consequence of this, and improved survival rates, the interest in programs to enhance the recovery of cancer survivors is growing. Exercise during and after treatment has been identified as a potential strategy to assist women throughout their treatment and positively influence the recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of breast cancer survivors. Through the use of an existing data source, this study investigated physical activity rates, explored the factors associated with low levels of physical activity participation, and assessed the relationship between levels of activity and HRQoL among women diagnosed with breast cancer. The population-based sample, obtained in 2002 was comprised of 287 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, residing in South-East Queensland. Women were followed-up (via subjective questionnaire and objective physical testing) every three months over a 12-month period, from six months post-diagnosis. Physical activity was assessed using the Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) while HRQoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for breast cancer (FACTB+4). Based on National Physical Activity Guidelines, women were categorised as being sufficiently active, insufficiently active or sedentary at each of the five testing phases (specifically at 6-, 9-, 12-, 15- and 18-months post-diagnosis). Rates of participation in physical activity were relatively stable over the testing period. At 18 months post-diagnosis, 44%, 43% and 13% of women, respectively, were categorised as being sufficiently active, insufficiently active or sedentary. The sedentary or insufficiently active women were more likely to be older, obese or overweight, lack private health insurance, and have received both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, compared with sufficiently active women. Sedentary women consistently reported a lower H