The effect of a period of combined training on the quality of life, cancer markers, aerobic capacity, in type II diabetic patients after breast cancer surgery

Introduction: The principal aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a period of combined exercise training on the quality of life, cancer markers, and aerobic capacity in type II diabetic patients after breast cancer surgery. Material & Methods: The subjects were 30 women with cancer and type II diabetes (mean age 50.53 ± 7.62 and weight 69.20 ± 19.14) who were selected for initial screening and were divided into two equal experimental, and control groups. The aerobic-resistance training consisted of three sessions per week for 8 weeks. The resistance training was performed using Pilates and aerobic exercises with a maximum heart rate (HR max) of 50-70% and each intervention session lasted 60 minutes. Tumor markers (CA15-3 and CEA), anthropometry characters (weight, body mass index, and body fat percent), Quality of life, and aerobic power were measured. To compare the pre and post-test results in each group, the statistically correlated t-test, and the independent t-test was used to compare the results of the two groups. The significance level was determined as P <0.05. Results: The results indicated that there is a significant promotion in quality of life between the two groups and in the experimental group (EG) was higher than the control group (CG) (P <0.05). The results also demonstrated that there was a significant decrease in the cancer markers of CA15-3 among the two research groups and there was a significant decrease in the EG (P <0.05), however, this difference was not significant in CEA markers (P >0.05). No significant differences were observed in other variables. (P >0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that eight weeks of combined exercise training in women with type II diabetes after breast cancer surgery were effective in the promotion of quality of life, and decreased BMI and CA15-3 but it was unchanged in CEA, WHR, aerobic power, weight, and fat%.