Multidisciplinary rehabilitation program after breast cancer : potential benefits analysis on physical function and quality of life

Objective: To determine the potential benefits, both physically and psychologically, of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program among women treated for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were recruited, sixteen in the control group and fourteen in the treated group. This group has benefited from a rehabilitation of three months including a supervised training and various psycho-educational sessions. The assessments, performed before and after the programme, included anthropometric and body composition measurements, a functional assessment and various questionnaires. Results: After three months, the health state (quality of life), emotional state, physical, cognitive and social functions and the symptoms of insomnia and anxiety significantly improve in the treated group. This observation also applies to the flexibility, maximal aerobic power / body weight, time to exhaustion during the physical effort test and walking distance in six minutes. In the control group, these improvements do not appear. Discussion: This preliminary study demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of a multidisciplinary approach in women after their treatments for breast cancer