Little is known about the role of exercise in improving cancer
patients' mood while undergoing chemotherapy. In this phase II study
changes in self-reported anxiety and depression and fitness
(VO2max) are reported in relation to a 6-week, 9 h weekly,
multidimensional exercise program. A total of 91 patients receiving
chemotherapy, between 18 and 65 years old, completed a Hospital Anxiety
and Depression Scale Questionnaire (HADS; response rate 91%, adherence
rate 78%). Anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p =
0.042) was significantly reduced. The mean ± SD of the
change was −1.14 ± 2.91 for anxiety and −0.44 ±
2.77 for depression. Improvements in fitness were correlated with
improvements in depression, χ2(1) = 3.966, p =
0.046, but not with improvements in anxiety, χ2(1) =
0.540, p = 0.462. The research suggests that exercise
intervention may have a beneficial impact on psychological distress for
cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with low to moderate levels of
baseline psychomorbidity. The study furthermore indicates that changes in
distress may be associated with disease status and levels of physical
activity undertaken during disease. The study is followed up by an ongoing
randomized clinical controlled trial to evaluate potential causal effects
of exercise intervention on psychological distress and fitness in cancer
patients undergoing chemotherapy.