Joint pain is a significant side effect of cancer treatment, especially for postmenopausal women who take aromatase inhibitors (AIs) for breast cancer. Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Yale have found an effective, drug-free method to alleviate this discomfort and improve patients’ quality of life – exercise.
A Pain Relief Alternative
A study involving 121 postmenopausal women taking AIs for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer aimed to explore the impact of physical activity on joint pain levels. The participants rated their joint pain using a standard pain evaluation questionnaire.
Researchers had some of the women participate in exercise sessions that included aerobic exercise and light weight lifting. As a result, they discovered that physical activity effectively reduced pain by an average of 20 percent.
Dr. Jennifer Ligibel, senior author of the study and part of the Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber, emphasized the importance of this finding. She explained that the study is one of the first to identify a non-medical approach for reducing joint pain in breast cancer patients. Exercise provides a practical and accessible solution for patients who wish to continue taking their medication without suffering from agonizing side effects.
Aromatase Inhibitors and Joint Pain
Postmenopausal women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer often receive AIs as part of their treatment. This form of cancer causes cells to grow and divide in response to estrogen. AIs function by preventing other hormones from converting into estrogen, which in turn lowers the risk of cancer recurrence.
One significant drawback of AIs is the joint pain, or arthralgia, experienced by up to half of breast cancer patients taking the medication. According to Dr. Ligibel, the pain often leads individuals to discontinue the drug, which in turn increases the likelihood that the cancer will return. Identifying a method to help women tolerate the medication is therefore of critical importance.
Dr. Melinda L. Irwin, an associate professor of chronic disease epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, emphasized the crucial role that AIs play in the effective treatment of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. The unfortunate side effects of the medication often cause patients to stop taking it, which has a direct impact on breast cancer survival rates and overall quality of life.
The Promise of Exercise
The study determined that exercise significantly improves joint pain, the most common side effect of AI use. These findings represent a critical first step in developing clinical interventions to improve patient experiences with AI-associated joint pain.
Exercise can also improve physical function and reduce fatigue, which benefits cancer patients who may be experiencing decreased functional capacity. Incorporating physical activity into cancer patients’ daily routines is not only crucial for managing joint pain, but also for reducing the side effects of their medication.
As a natural solution to joint pain relief, exercise does not introduce any additional risks or complications for patients who are already dealing with the challenges of cancer treatment. With no need for prescription medication to alleviate discomfort, patients can avoid potential side effects and additional healthcare costs.
It is important for individuals to consult with their healthcare provider before starting any new exercise regimen, as each patient’s physical needs and limitations will vary. By working closely with their medical team, breast cancer patients seeking relief from joint pain can build a personalized exercise routine to suit their specific circumstances and improve their quality of life.
In Conclusion
Exercise provides an appealing solution for breast cancer patients who rely on AIs for their treatment but suffer from the medication’s debilitating side effects. The study from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Yale highlights the potential of physical activity in not only managing joint pain but also ensuring that patients can continue taking their medication without compromising their quality of life.
Ongoing research will continue to explore additional clinical interventions that can further improve the experience of AI use, ultimately benefiting patients’ adherence to medication, breast cancer survival rates, and overall wellbeing.
