BackgroundBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide, and depressive symptoms are disturbing side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Physical activity and exercise have emerged as an alternative treatment in handling psychological distress throughout breast cancer survivorship.AimThe aim of this review was to present the results of (1) physical activity and (2) exercise interventions in terms of type and duration regarding depressive symptoms among breast cancer survivors during and after treatment. The hypothesis was that cancer survivors who are engaged with physical activity will demonstrate statistically significant lower levels of depressive symptoms when compared with non-exercising control groups.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Elsevier and Google Scholar for recent articles published between January 2011 and November 2016. Fourteen randomised control trials with 1701 patients in total were assessed.ResultsSignificant differences in levels were found between exercise intervention groups and control groups, while moderate aerobic exercise interventions with an optimal duration of ≥135 min for up to 12 weeks are significantly more beneficial in depressive symptoms when it comes to patients under treatment than resistance, aerobicandresistance training and yoga interventions.ConclusionsIt is concluded that when progressive exercise programmes are prescribed according to the individual needs, capabilities and preferences of breast cancer survivors, they offer a valid alternative to depression mood management throughout the course of survivorship.

BackgroundBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide and depression and anxiety are disturbing side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of physical activity in global health, quality of life (QoL), and psychological factors (depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and anxiety) in breast cancer survivors after completing cancer treatment and through survivorship. Demographic variables (marital status, education, income), medical status (cancer stage), and level of physical activity (metabolic equivalent of task [MET]) were tested as predictors of depressive mood, anxiety, self-esteem, and QoL in younger and older breast cancer survivors.Materials and methodsOne hundred and seventy-one Greek breast cancer survivors, who had completed cancer treatment at least one and a half years ago, were included in this study. Demographic and medical information, self-reported and objective physical activity levels, global health, QoL, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and anxiety were assessed in all participants.ResultsActive women had lower depressive symptoms, less anxiety, higher self-esteem, and better global health and QoL, compared to the inactive ones, even in the long term after completing treatment through survivorship. Exercise had significant positive correlations with self-esteem, global health, and QoL (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social aspects). Moreover, significant negative correlations with anxiety and depressive symptoms were found. Multiple regression analysis revealed that MET and covariates such as income, education, and stage of cancer were significant predictors of depressive symptoms, self-esteem, anxiety, global health, and QoL in younger survivors, while MET, income, education, stage of cancer, and marital status were significant predictors of dependent variables for the older ones.ConclusionIt can be concluded that exercise should be recommended to cancer survivors even after treatment completion and through survivorship to achieve higher self-esteem, better QoL, and decreased anxiety and depressive symptoms.

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