gms | German Medical Science

Background: Current studies show that more than 60% of tumor patients will survive their cancer or at least live with their disease. Nevertheless, these patients often suffer from a variety of problems as a consequence of their disease/treatment such as prolonged fatigue, depression or social isolation that may all be improved by physical activity. However, in contrast to current recommendations oncological patients even tend to be less physically active after disease.

Aim: In Germany, rehabilitation is an integral part of the health care system and multidimensional rehabilitation programs, mainly financed by the German pension fund, aim at these specific problems. For historical reasons, oncological rehabilitation is almost exclusively provided in an inpatient setting for an average duration of 3 weeks without sustainable rehabilitation effects in the long run. Aim of our previous studies was to evaluate novel individualized concepts of rehabilitation.

Method: With regard to the growing evidence for enhancing physical activity in cancer patients, more individualized training concepts are required to ensure long-term success of oncological rehabilitation programs. These concepts must be based on early individual screening and testing for physical capacity, focus on individual patient needs and exploit a variable time frame for optimizing evidenced-based treatment measures. All these factors must be considered in order to provide sustainable rehabilitation success.

Results/findings: We performed several studies in the rehabilitation setting in order to optimize training modes and exercise recommendations that will be summarized in this presentation (see [1], [2], [3]).

Discussion and conclusions: Physical activity levels, quality of life and fatigue can be sustainably improved in breast cancer patients by novel individualized concepts.