Stevinson, C., Steed, H., Faught, W., Tonkin, K., Vallance, J.K., Ladha, A.B., . . . Courneya, K.S. (2009). Physical activity in ovarian cancer survivors: Associations with fatigue, sleep, and psychosocial functioning. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer, 19, 73–78.

To investigate the associations between physical activity and health-related outcomes in ovarian cancer survivors and examine any dose-response relationship and to investigate associations between physical activity and peripheral neuropathy, depression, anxiety, sleep latency, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction

Participants with confirmed ovarian cancer from 1985–2005 were asked to complete and return a consent form and questionnaire. Non-responders were sent a reminder postcard after two weeks and a second questionnaire after four weeks. The study took place from May 2006–June 2007.

• N = 359 (51.4% response rate)  
• AGE: 60.2 years (SD = 12.6 years)
• FEMALES: 100%   
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Months since diagnosis = 73.6 months (SD = 52.6 months); 85.8% were diagnosed with invasive disease; 82.7% were in remission; 97.8% had received surgery, 70.5% had received chemotherapy, 6.4% had received radiation therapy, and 9.2% were receiving treatment at the time of the study.
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: 73.5% were married or partnered; 40.9% were working full- or part- time; body mass index was 27.1 kg/m² (SD = 5.4 kg/m²) with 37% being overweight and 24.2% being obese. One or more cormorbidities were reported in 78.1% of the sample.  
   

• SITE: Multi-site  
• SETTING TYPE: Home  
• LOCATION: Mailed surveys; Alberta, Canada
   

• PHASE OF CARE: During and after treatment
• APPLICATIONS: Late effects and survivorship
   

• Descriptive, mailed self-report surveys

• Demographic and medical data from the cancer registry, supplemented by self-report information
• Leisure Score Index of the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire    
• Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Fatigue Scale
• Neurotoxicity subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy
• Gynecologic Oncology Group—Neurotoxicity scale
• Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
• Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (short version)
• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
• Happiness measure
   

A total of 359 ovarian cancer survivors participated, of whom 31.1% were meeting the public health physical activity guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those meeting the guidelines reported significantly lower fatigue than those who did not meet the guidelines. Meeting the guidelines was significantly inversely associated with peripheral neuropathy, depression, anxiety, sleep latency, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction and was positively associated with happiness, sleep quality, and sleep efficiency. No evidence existed of a dose-response relationship beyond meeting or not meeting the guidelines for any variables.

Ovarian cancer survivors who were meeting physical activity guidelines reported more favorable outcomes of fatigue, peripheral neuropathy, sleep, and psychosocial functioning, compared to those who were sedentary or reported low activity.

•  No appropriate control group
•  Surveys are cross-sectional and self-report
   

Results of this population-based study suggest that ovarian cancer survivors may have fewer and less severe symptoms (e.g., fatigue, depression, neuropathy) and more health-related benefits (e.g, better sleep, greater happiness), if they increase physical activity during or after cancer treatment.