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Association between exercise and quality of life in multiple myeloma cancer survivors

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Abstract

Goals of the work

The goal of this study was to examine the association between exercise and quality of life (QOL) in multiple myeloma cancer survivors.

Patients and methods

Using a retrospective design, 156 multiple myeloma cancer survivors were mailed a questionnaire that assessed self-reported exercise behavior over three periods (prediagnosis, active treatment, and off-treatment) and QOL.

Main results

The response rate was 56% (88/156). Descriptive analyses indicated that 6.8% and 20.4% of survivors met national exercise guidelines during active and off-treatment periods, respectively. Exercise during active treatment and off-treatment were positively associated with overall QOL and all subdomains of QOL (all P<0.05) except physical wellbeing.

Conclusions

A low percentage of multiple myeloma cancer survivors are exercising regularly either during active or off-treatment periods. Survivors who report more exercise during these periods also report higher QOL. These findings suggest that a randomized controlled trial is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Education, University of Alberta, E-424 Van Vliet Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H9, Canada

    Lee W. Jones, Kerry S. Courneya, Jeffrey K. H. Vallance & Aliya B. Ladha

  2. Department of Clinical Hematology, University of Alberta Hospital, 2E3.32 WMC, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2H7, Canada

    Michael J. Mant

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1Z2, Canada

    Andrew R. Belch & Tony Reiman

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331-29 Street N.W, Calgary, Alberta, T2 N 4N2, Canada

    Douglas A. Stewart

Authors
  1. Lee W. Jones
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  2. Kerry S. Courneya
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  3. Jeffrey K. H. Vallance
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  4. Aliya B. Ladha
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  5. Michael J. Mant
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  6. Andrew R. Belch
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  7. Douglas A. Stewart
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  8. Tony Reiman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lee W. Jones.

Additional information

This study was supported by a Humanities, Fine Arts, and Social Sciences Research (HFASSR) Grant from the University of Alberta.

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Jones, L.W., Courneya, K.S., Vallance, J.K.H. et al. Association between exercise and quality of life in multiple myeloma cancer survivors. Support Care Cancer 12, 780–788 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0668-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-004-0668-4

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