Abstract: Abstract： Objective To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise during chemotherapy on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients, and related mechanism thereof. Methods Sixty breast cancer patients who underwent radical surgery were randomly assigned to exercise group and control group, 30 patients for each group. Patients in exercise group received regular nursing care plus aerobic exercise during chemotherapy, while patients in control group only received regular nursing care. The revised Piper fatigue scale (RPFS) was used to assess the fatigue degree. Values of hemoglobin concentration(Hb), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and RPFS scores were detected before chemotherapy, at the end of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after chemotherapy, respectively. Results There was no significant difference in Hb concentration before chemotherapy, at the end of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after chemotherapy between two groups (P＞0.05). The level of Hb was significantly lower at the end of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after chemotherapy than that before chemotherapy in two groups (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in VO2max and RPFS score before chemotherapy between two groups (P＞0.05). At the end of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after chemotherapy, there were no significant differences in VO2max and RPFS scores than those before chemotherapy in exercise group (P＞0.05). In control group, value of VO2max was significantly lower at the end of chemotherapy and 4 weeks after chemotherapy than that before chemotherapy (P＜0.05), RPFS score was significantly higher than that before chemotherapy (P＜0.05). Conclusion Aerobic exercise during chemotherapy can be effectively against cancer-related fatigue, which may be related to the inhibitory effect of aerobic exercise on debasement of VO2max.

Key words: fatigue, neoplasms, physical education and training, hemoglobins, oxygen consumption, cancer-related fatigue, aerobic exercise, VO2max, Piper fatigue scale