Leeuw, C. de (2026) Exploring the Potential Protective Role of Habitual Physical Activity against Long-Term Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cohort Study. thesis, Medicine.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Introduction With a growing population of breast cancer (BC) survivors, attention to the long-term consequences of BC and its treatment, including cancer-related fatigue (CRF), is increasing. Although physical activity (PA) interventions reduce fatigue in the short term, the association between habitual PA and long-term fatigue remains unclear. Methods A longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted among BC survivors using data from the Breast cancer Long-term Outcomes on Cardiac function (BLOC)-I and -II studies. At BLOC-I, PA was assessed using the Short Questionnaire to Assess Health-enhancing Physical Activity (SQUASH). Fatigue was measured at BLOC-I and approximately 10 years later at BLOC-II using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20). Linear regression analyses examined associations between adherence to the Dutch PA guideline and changes in fatigue over time. Additional analyses assessed PA as a continuous measure using weekly Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET)-minutes. Results A total of 167 BC survivors were included, of whom 68.9% met the Dutch PA guideline at BLOC-I. Median fatigue scores increased significantly over time in both PA groups for total fatigue and most fatigue subscales. No associations were observed between guideline adherence or MET-minutes and changes in fatigue. Baseline fatigue was the only factor associated with changes in fatigue and explained most of the variance in the models. Conclusion Fatigue increased over time among long-term BC survivors, and habitual PA was not associated with more favourable fatigue outcomes. Further research is needed to identify determinants of long-term fatigue among BC survivors.
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Wal, L.T. van der and Brandenbarg, D. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Oct 2026 12:32 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Oct 2026 12:32 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3977 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |