Background
Methods
1. What was your cancer diagnosis? The disease site and stage of cancer, and how long has it been since your diagnosis? | |
2. Please explain/describe/share the cancer treatment(s) that you received? | |
3. How long has it been since you completed your cancer treatment and been considered a survivor? | |
4. Could you describe your daily life prior to your cancer diagnosis? - Dietary intake? Stress? PA? | |
5. How would you describe your social network, such as family support and relationship with friends? - Was it similar during and after treatment? How were these relationships impacted by your cancer treatment? | |
6. Were you physically active prior to your cancer diagnosis? - How often? How long? What activity did you do? Planned vs. unstructured? | |
7. In what way did your cancer treatment impact you? Physically, mentally, emotionally? | |
8. Were you physically active during your cancer treatments? - If active, do you think it may have helped you physically, mentally, or emotionally cope with cancer treatment? | |
9. What was your daily life like after being diagnosed with cancer? Please explain. How was your daily life impacted by your cancer diagnosis? - Routines, seeing family and friends, being physically active. | |
10. Have any of the physical, mental, or emotional feelings that you experienced while undergoing cancer treatment continue after your treatment was complete? | |
11. Are you aware of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, or has anyone brought them your attention? | |
12. Did your health care provider recommend for you to be physically active during the course of your cancer treatment? After the completion of your treatment? - What was their recommendation? - Do you feel the topic of physical activity is something of interest or importance for your health care provider to speak to you about? Should health care providers talk about physical activity to individuals during cancer treatment? | |
13. Do you think physical activity could, in general, provide benefits to your overall daily life? If so, could you explain how? In what way might physical activity benefit your daily life? - the physical and mental feelings that you may experience after being physically active. (Energy levels, mood, strength). - the possible change in physical and mental feelings after being physically active (energy levels, mood, strength). |
Data analysis
Results
Participanta | Cancer Diagnosis | Treatment(s) | Duration of Cancer Treatment | Side Effects from Treatment | PA Levelb Prior to Diagnosis | PA Level After Treatment | Types of PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marie | Invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer) ER positive, HER2/NEU negative | Mastectomy Prophylactic hysterectomy 8 cycles chemotherapy 25 radiation treatments | Diagnosis: July, 2005 Completion: March, 2007 | Nausea Joint pain Fatigue Low immune system Inability to sleep Hair loss High FSH | Very high | Very high | Walking Yoga Weight training Golf Aerobic classes Pickle ball |
David | Chronic lymphocytic leukemia | Chemotherapy | Diagnosis 2006 Completion 2009 | Low hemoglobin level Vomiting immediately after chemo | Very high | Very high | Walking Running Tennis Hockey |
Mark | Colon cancer | Surgery, resection of the lower bowel 8 cycles chemotherapy 25 radiation treatments | Diagnosis May, 2017 Completion August, 2018 | Recovery from surgery Lack of energy Hiccups Chemo-induced-peripheral- neuropathy High sensitivity to cold | High | High | Walking Outdoor activity |
Catherine | Breast cancer | Surgery 4 cycles chemotherapy 25 radiation treatments | Diagnosis November, 2016 Completion June, 2017 | High blood pressure Fatigue Hair loss Chemo burn | Moderate | Moderate | Walking Swimming Aqua fit classes |
Kelly | Small bowel cancer | Surgery 12 cycles chemotherapy | Diagnosis February, 2018 Completion January, 2019 | Hand and foot syndrome Blocked tear ducts Fatigue | High | Moderate | Walking Aerobics classes Gym |
Graham | Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma | 5–6 months of chemotherapy One month radiation | Diagnosis May, 1995 Completion March, 1996 | Hair loss Nausea | Moderate | Moderate | Gym Swimming Running |
Patrick | Prostate cancer | Surgery | Diagnosis March, 2018 Completion May, 2019 | Recovery from surgery Weaken of pelvic floor from surgery | High | High | Hockey Gym Walking |
Grace | Invasive ductal carcinoma (i.e., breast cancer) Estrogen Positive HER2 Positive | 4 cycles chemotherapy 16 radiation treatments | Diagnosis December, 2015 Completion March, 2017 | Hair loss | Moderate | Moderate | Walking Swimming |
Claire | Breast cancer | Surgery Radiation Chemotherapy | Treatment received 10 years ago. | Radiation burns Fatigue Nausea Illness | Moderate | Moderate | Walking Swimming Aqua fit classes |
Jane | Breast cancer | Mastectomy 4 cycles chemotherapy | Diagnosis October, 2016 Completion Fall, 2018 | Change in heart beat proficiency Allergic reaction to chemo-therapy Headaches Body Aches Hair loss | Moderate | Moderate | Walking Skiing Biking Volleyball Squash Aqua Fit Gym |
Anna | Breast cancer | Double mastectomy 6 cycles chemotherapy 25 radiation treatments | Diagnosis March, 2016 Completion Early 2017 | Radiation burns Low white blood cell count Memory difficulty Skin sensitivity | Low | Moderate | Walking Aqua fit classes |
Lisa | Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma | 6 cycles chemotherapy 25 radiation treatments | Diagnosis June, 2018 Completion January, 2019 | Hair loss Body pain Bone pain Fatigue Cognitive confusion Neuropathy Exhaustion | Moderate | Low | Walking Outdoor activities and play with kids |
Andrew | Prostate cancer | Surgery | Diagnosis May, 2017 Completion May, 2017 | Recovery from surgery Weight loss Vomiting | Moderate | Low | Walking Running Swimming Basketball |
Physical benefits
“My bone density actually improved. That’s when I began a really rigorous exercise program. Sort of at that time I was doing research on how to improve my bone density and exercise was one of the things. So, I actually began doing weights”.