An exercise bout performed 24 h prior to every doxorubicin treatment did not have an effect on markers of subclinical cardiotoxicity, but had a positive systemic effect on hemodynamics, musculoskeletal symptoms, mood, and body weight in women with breast cancer. A single exercise bout prior to chemotherapy treatments may be a simple clinical modality to reduce symptoms and weight gain among women with breast cancer.

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The first doxorubicin treatment is associated with acutely increased NT-proBNP, echocardiographic parameters of myocardial relaxation, left ventricular volume overload, and changes in longitudinal strain and twist opposite in direction to documented longer-term changes. An exercise session performed 24h prior to treatment attenuated NT-proBNP release and increased systolic function. Future investigations should verify these findings in a larger cohort and across multiple courses of doxorubicin.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to provide a rationale for “chemotherapy-periodized” exercise by characterizing cyclical variations in fatigue and exercise response across a chemotherapy cycle and comparing exercise adherence during chemotherapy between a prescription that is periodized according to chemotherapy cycle length and a standard linearly progressed prescription. Methods Women with breast cancer who were prescribed taxane-based chemotherapy were randomly assigned to a supervised aerobic and resistance exercise program after a chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription (n = 12) or to usual care during chemotherapy (n = 15). Fatigue and steady state exercise responses were assessed in both groups before the first taxane treatment and across the third treatment (i.e., 0–3 d prior and 3–5 d after the third treatment, and 0–3 d before the fourth treatment) to assess cyclical variations. Adherence to the chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription was compared with adherence to a standard linear prescription from a prior study in a similar population (n = 51). Results Fatigue increased from baseline (marginal mean ± standard error: 3.2 ± 0.4) to before the third treatment (4.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.025), then peaked at 3 to 5 d after the third treatment (5.1 ± 0.4, P = 0.001), before recovering before the fourth treatment (4.3 ± 0.5, P = 0.021). The peak in fatigue at 3 to 5 d post–third treatment corresponded to a decrease in steady state exercise oxygen consumption (V˙O2) (P = 0.013). Compared with a standard linear exercise prescription during chemotherapy, a chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription resulted in higher attendance during the week after chemotherapy (57% ± 30% vs 77% ± 28%, P = 0.04) and overall attendance (63% + 25% vs 78% ± 23%, P = 0.05). Conclusions Fatigue and exercise V˙O2 vary across a chemotherapy cycle. A chemotherapy-periodized exercise prescription that accommodates cyclical variations in fatigue may increase adherence to supervised exercise.

Whether the large lungs of swimmers result from intensive training or genetic endowment has been widely debated. Given that peak lung growth velocities occur during puberty, this study examined if competitive swimming during puberty affected lung growth. Eleven‐ to fourteen‐year‐old healthy female competitive swimmers and controls were assessed before (PRE) and after (POST) one swimming season (7.4 ± 0.5 months). Pulmonary function testing included lung volumes, spirometry, diffusion capacity (DL , CO), and maximal inspiratory (PIMAX) and expiratory (PEMAX) pressures. Ventilatory constraints, including end‐expiratory lung volume, expiratory flow limitation, and utilization of ventilatory capacity, were assessed during an incremental cycling test. Swimmers (n = 11) and controls (n = 10) were of similar age, size, and sexual maturity (P > 0.05). However, swimmers compared to controls had a greater total lung capacity (PRE 4.73 ± 0.73 vs. 3.93 ± 0.46, POST 5.08 ± 0.68 vs. 4.19 ± 0.64 L; P < 0.01), peak expiratory flow (PRE 6.48 ± 0.92 vs. 5.70 ± 0.86, POST 6.97 ± 0.84 vs. 6.00 ± 0.77 L·s−1; P = 0.03), and PEMAX (P < 0.001). Although DL , CO was greater in swimmers (P = 0.01), differences were attenuated when expressed relative to alveolar volume (PRE 5.14 ± 0.60 vs. 5.44 ± 0.44, POST 4.91 ± 0.56 vs. 5.16 ± 0.38 mL min−1 mmHg−1 L−1; P = 0.20). The groups achieved a similar maximal oxygen uptake (P = 0.32), and ventilatory constraints experienced were not different (P > 0.05). Changes over time were not different between groups (P > 0.05). At the initial measurement, pubertal female swimmers had greater lung size, expiratory flows, and indices of respiratory muscle strength, but similar ventilatory constraints while cycling. One competitive swimming season did not further accentuate this enhanced lung size and function or alter ventilatory mechanics, suggesting that competitive swimming during puberty did not affect lung growth.