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The Effect of Exercise on the Alleviation of Side Effects Induced by Aromatase Inhibitors in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

  • Breast Cancer (B Overmoyer, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are effective in treating postmenopausal women suffering from estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer (BC). However, AIs are also commonly associated with a number of side effects which decrease the quality of life (QoL) of the patients. This review focuses on the effects of exercise interventions on reducing the side effects commonly experienced by BC patients on AI treatment.

Recent Findings

Recent studies in the literature support that exercise interventions are feasible and improve body composition, aromatase inhibitor–induced Arthralgia (AIIA), and the overall QoL of BC patients.

Summary

Successful implementation of longitudinal exercise interventions is expected to improve the QoL of BC patients on AI treatment. Future studies should therefore be carried out with a larger number of postmenopausal BC patients on AI treatment to (a) investigate the effects of exercise interventions on depression, cognitive decline, and cardiotoxicity and (b) address the motivation that should be used to keep BC survivors engaged in exercise intervention programs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, CY-1700, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Zacharias Raptopoulos & Constantina Constantinou

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Correspondence to Constantina Constantinou.

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Raptopoulos, Z., Constantinou, C. The Effect of Exercise on the Alleviation of Side Effects Induced by Aromatase Inhibitors in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients. Curr Oncol Rep 22, 110 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-020-00971-2

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