Yale Bulletin and Calendar

April 30, 2004|Volume 32, Number 28

Study will explore whether exercise
impacts risk factors for breast cancer

A new study that will examine how physical activity changes the risk factors for breast cancer has begun at the School of Medicine's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (EPH) and the Yale Cancer Center.

The Yale Exercise and Survivorship Study will explore whether exercise favorably changes risk factors such as hormones and breast tissue composition. Principal investigator Melinda Irwin, assistant professor in EPH, is in the process of recruiting 100 breast cancer survivors who do not currently exercise.

"Our goal is to identify how exercise may affect breast cancer prognosis," says Irwin. "We are looking for Connecticut women diagnosed with breast cancer one to five years ago, who are postmenopausal. Participants will learn how to make exercise an enjoyable part of their lives."

All 100 women will be randomly enrolled in a supervised exercise program at a local health club for 12 months. The exercise program will involve 30 minutes of physical activity, such as walking, five days a week. Three of the five days will be supervised by a trained exercise physiologist who will work closely with participants to improve their ability to exercise. The exercise portion of the study will last one year, with approximately two weeks of testing before and after the program.

Irwin says the study will include a series of health and medical questionnaires and blood analysis, along with other non-invasive measurements, such as height and weight.

For details or to enroll in the study, contact project manager Marty Alvarez-Reeves, marty.alvarez-reeves@yale.edu or (203) 764-8426.

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