A growing body of research with persons having cancer-related fatigue indicates that engaging in regular endurance exercise can attenuate self-reported fatigue. There is some evidence suggesting that regular endurance exercise increases functional capacity, improves the distance walked, enhances quality of life (QOL) in persons with cancer and reduces depression. Very little, however, is known regarding the biological mechanisms through which endurance exercise may reduce cancer-related fatigue and produce such beneficial effects. Based on the existing literature, it is not clear if endurance exercise attenuates cancer-related fatigue by changing biological variables at the muscle level, such as muscle endurance or strength. In addition, research on the relationship between the biological and the behavioral outcomes of exercise in this patient population is scarce. Thus, this pilot study is designed to examine the influence of structured endurance exercise training on fatigue-related biological and behavioral outcomes among women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation for stage II breast cancer. Interactions among biological and behavioral responses will be investigated with the intent to improve biobehavioral outcomes associated with the critical health experience of cancer-related fatigue.

The specific aims of this pilot study are to:

1. investigate the influence of a structured endurance exercise program on a number of fatigue-related biological and behavioral factors, including muscle strength, muscle endurance, VO2 max and cardiopulmonary fitness, distance walked, self-reported fatigue, depression, and quality of life in women with breast cancer; and
2. pilot test the components of the research design to evaluate the exercise protocol, recruitment and retention of participants including minorities, and the feasibility of implementing the exercise protocol.