Breast Cancer, Reasoning, and Activity Intervention

Breast cancer survivors in the intervention group will participate in a 24-week moderate intensity exercise program led by community-based fitness center personal trainers. Individually-tailored exercise prescriptions will be developed based upon each participant's baseline maximal graded exercise test (heart rate corresponding with %VO2 peak) and symptom limitation. Sessions will be progressive in nature such that the volume of exercise increases across weeks. Treadmill walking is the primary mode of exercise. However, participants will be permitted to use other cardiovascular equipment (e.g., elliptical machines, stationary bicycles) as prescribed by their exercise trainer. The trainer will supervise three weekly exercise sessions in Weeks 1-2, two in Weeks 3-4, one in Weeks 5-8, biweekly across weeks 9-16, and monthly in Weeks 17-24 (N=20 supervised sessions).

Breast cancer survivors in the Health Education group will participate in education sessions with a health educator and receive monthly newsletters/webinars (N=20 total contacts) across 24 weeks. The program will include cancer support and discussion of cancer-related wellness topics (e.g., stress management, coping). Control group participants will be offered a 6-month fitness center membership upon study completion.