Life Postdiagnosis: Female Adult Breast Cancer Survivors’Experience With Physical Activity - A Qualitative Systematic Review

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz

Life Postdiagnosis: Female Adult Breast Cancer Survivors’ Experience With Physical Activity presents a qualitative systematic review examining how adult women experience physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis. Six databases were searched in January 2024 and 10 included studies (200 participants) informed quality appraisal, data extraction, and thematic synthesis. Five overarching themes emerged, covering participation outcomes, barriers, postdiagnosis balancing, needs for future programs, and next steps for survivors. Findings highlight generally positive experiences alongside treatment side effects, unmet advice needs, and daily-life challenges, informing future survivorship care guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Methods

Results

Outcomes of Physical Activity Participation

Barriers to Physical Activity

Postdiagnosis Balancing Act

Needs for Future Physical Activity Programs

Next Steps for Breast Cancer Survivors

Conclusion

Introduction

The Breast Journal

Wiley The Breast Journal Volume 2025, Article ID 6926093, 14 pages [https://doi.org/10.1155/tbj/6926093](https://doi.org/10.1155/tbj/6926093) Review Article Life Postdiagnosis: Female Adult Breast Cancer Survivors’Experience With Physical Activity—A Qualitative Systematic Review Neeve Brown and Fiona Muirhead University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Correspondence should be addressed to Fiona Muirhead; [fona.muirhead@strath.ac.uk](fona.muirhead@strath.ac.uk) Received 21 August 2024; Revised 28 August 2025; Accepted 2 September 2025 Academic Editor: Imtiaz Wani Copyright © 2025 Neeve Brown and Fiona Muirhead. Te Breast Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Tis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: With increasing survival rates of breast cancer, there is a need for more research to understand the experiences of survivors. Previous quantitative studies have shown that physical activity can be benefcial for breast cancer survivors. However, a qualitative perspective is essential to create appropriate adaptations for this population. Tis study aims to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of female adult breast cancer survivors with physical activity in their postdiagnosis lifestyle. Methods: Tis study followed a qualitative systematic review methodology. In January 2024, six databases (APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus, OVID Medline, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and Sports Medicine an Education Index) were searched using aim-specifc key terms. Ten studies, comprising a total sample of 200 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Quality appraisal, data extraction and synthesis stages were conducted. Results: Five main themes emerged during the synthesis stage: (1) Outcomes of Physical Activity Participation,(2) Barriers to Physical Activity,(3) Postdiagnosis Balancing Act,(4) Needs for Future Physical Activity Programs and (5) Next Steps for Breast Cancer Survivors. Additionally, 15 subthemes were identifed. Conclusion: Overall, breast cancer survivors reported positive experiences with physical activity, leading to a desire to maintain an active lifestyle. However, barriers such as treatment side efects, unmet needs for advice from health services and challenges in daily life postdiagnosis were identifed. Future research should explore the implementation of specifc national guidelines and recommendations for survivors postdiagnosis to overcome these barriers and enhance the quality of survivorship care. 1. Introduction Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent form of cancer globally [1]. By 2045, BC incidence is projected to increase by 40%, resulting in approximately 3 million new diagnoses annually [2] . BC’s clinical presentation, treatment outcomesand prognosis are shaped by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, environmental and demographic infuences [3, 4] . Key modifable risk factors—including obesity, smoking, diabetes and HIV infection—have been consistently linked to increased BC mortality [5] . Obesity is also correlated with higher BC incidence in developed countries [6, 7] . Despite the increase in diagnoses, BC survival rates have also risen. In the UK, survival rates have nearly doubled from 40% in the 1970s to 78% in the 2010s for 10 years post-diagnosis [8] . Tis improvement is due to advancements in medical technology, early detection, accessible treatments, preventative procedures and enhanced research [1] . Recent evidence indicates that breast cancer survivors (BCS) can experience long-lasting side efects from treatments like chemotherapy, including fatigue, lymphedema, infertility, chronic pain, early menopause, sexual dysfunction, body image issues and accelerated aging [9–11] . Additionally, BCS may face general survivorship struggles such as trauma, reduced quality of life, altered self-perception and s

FAQs

What is the purpose of this qualitative systematic review?

To develop a deeper understanding of the experiences of female adult breast cancer survivors with physical activity in their postdiagnosis lifestyle.

How were studies selected and synthesized?

Six databases were searched in January 2024; 10 studies with 200 participants met inclusion criteria, followed by quality appraisal, data extraction, and thematic synthesis.

What main themes were identified from survivors’ experiences?

The synthesis identified five main themes: participation outcomes, barriers, a postdiagnosis balancing act, needs for future physical activity programs, and next steps for survivors.

What barriers and future research directions are highlighted?

Barriers include treatment side effects, unmet advice needs from health services, and challenges in daily life postdiagnosis. Future research should explore implementation of specific national guidelines to overcome barriers and enhance survivorship care.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Kurz