The uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth in the breast forms tumors and causes cancer. It needs proper diagnosis and treatment as it increases the risk of death if left untreated. Healthcare professionals perform chemotherapy on patients with breast cancer. This therapy destroys cancer cells and stops their uncontrolled growth. But a recent study conducted by UCLA has revealed that older women aged 65 or above who undergo chemotherapy for high-risk breast cancer might face difficulties in doing normal physical activities like walking and climbing stairs. Â
This was a multicenter prospective study published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship. In this study, researchers involved 3 groups of women such as the chemotherapy group, consisting of 444 women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy, the control group, consisting of 98 women who received other treatments and the non-cancer control group, consisting of 100 women who did not have cancer. These participated women were aged 65 or above. Â
In this study, researchers compared the physical function of these older women with early-stage breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy to those who did not, as well as women without cancer of the same age. When researchers observed the collected data, they found that 30% of women in the chemotherapy group experienced a notable decline in their physical function. The most affected activities were climbing stairs, walking a mile and doing moderately active things. Â
One of the researchers says it is very important to understand if this loss of physical activity is due to cancer, chemotherapy or both. When older women get breast cancer, they can age faster. It lowers the quality of their lives and increases the risk of death. As the number of older breast cancer survivors is projected to rise and reach over 6 million by 2040, there is a need to find new strategies to slow down this aging. Â
The results of this study show older women with breast cancer who underwent chemotherapy had a notable decline in their physical function as compared to women who received other treatments or who did not have cancer. There is a need to help these women keep their physical abilities and improve quality of their lives. So, healthcare professionals should make some effective strategies for this.Â
Reference Link:Â Â
Mina S. Sedrak et al, Functional decline in older breast cancer survivors treated with and without chemotherapy and non-cancer controls: results from the Hurria Older PatiEnts (HOPE) prospective study, Journal of Cancer Survivorship (2024). Â
