Author: Amal Bilal, Class of 2028

Figure 1. Woman lifting two dumbbells at the gym

Certain types of chemotherapy, a widely used treatment for cancers, can lead to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a side-effect that causes pain, numbness, tingling, balance difficulties, and an increased risk of falls. Up to 68% of patients undergoing chemotherapy develop CIPN during or immediately after treatment, and 30-40% of patients experience CIPN symptoms six months after chemotherapy. Despite its prevalence among cancer patients, effective treatments for CIPN are limited. Stony Brook University researcher Alexie Lessing and her team sought to examine the association between exercise and long-term post-chemotherapy CIPN symptoms in breast cancer survivors.

The research team conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study involving patients with early-stage breast cancer diagnosed between 1965 and 2021 who had previously undergone chemotherapy. The patients’ exercise histories were evaluated using the Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ), which included three questions assessing the average frequency of mild, moderate, and strenuous-intensity exercise sessions of at least 15 minutes per session over a typical seven-day period. The researchers then weighted the various exercise intensities by estimating the metabolic equivalent of the task (MET) to calculate the total MET hours per week. The patients were also categorized as “exercisers” or “non-exercisers” based on whether they met the Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Finally, participants completed the Breast Survivorship Patient Self-Assessment which assessed their peripheral neuropathy symptoms (numbness or tingling in their hands and feet) during the past month. Participants also rated the severity of their symptoms and how much they interfere with their daily activities using a Likert scale. 

A total of 5,444 patients completed the self-assessment and underwent chemotherapy. CIPN was prevalent in 28% of the exercisers and 38% of the non-exercisers. Exercisers reported interference in their daily activities due to CIPN was 50% as compared to 60% for the non-exercisers. Furthermore, the mean pain rating was 1.3 for exercisers and 2.1 for non-exercisers, indicating that exercise during treatment not only reduced the interference of CIPN but also the pain felt by patients. In general, exercise was shown to be negatively associated with CIPN, regardless of chemotherapy type. Ultimately, the study agrees with previous research that regular exercise during active treatment may help mitigate cancer treatment-related side effects such as CIPN; however, future randomized trials are needed to test exercise therapy as a treatment for CIPN.

Works Cited: 

[1] Saint, K., Nemirovsky, D., Lessing, A. et al. Impact of exercise on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in survivors with post-treatment primary breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment 206, 667–675 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-024-07342-6 

[2] Image retrieved from: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-gray-tank-top-holding-two-black-dumbbells-3757370/