Adjusting the Dose of Therapeutic Exercise to Prevent Neurotoxicity Due to Anticancer Treatment (ATENTO)

One of the most common side effects of breast cancer and its treatments is neurotoxicity of central and peripheral nervous system. Neurotoxicity is present in up to 75% of this population, which implies a large impact in quality of life. There is a special interest in the preventive possibilities of therapeutic exercise relating to these neurological sequelae, whose benefits could improve thanks to the combination with vagal activation techniques.

This superiority randomized controlled trial will be aimed to check the effects of a multimodal intervention (ATENTO) based on moderate-high intensity and individualized therapeutic exercise (aerobic and strength exercises) and vagal activation techniques (myofascial stretching and breathing exercises), on neurotoxicity prevention in women with breast cancer before starting potentially neurotoxic treatments (ATENTO-B) versus throughout them (ATENTO-T). A sample of 56 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer calculated with a power of 85% will be allocated into two groups.

This study could provide an impetus for the introduction of early multimodal intervention methods of preventing neurotoxicity and consequently avoid the current QoL deterioration that breast cancer patients suffer throughout their treatments.

Inclusion criteria

• To have 18 years or older
• To have a breast cancer diagnosis (Stage I-III)
• To be on waiting list for medical adjuvant treatment with risk of central and/or peripheral neurotoxicity.
• To have signed the informed consent.
• To have medical clearance for participation.

Exclusion criteria

• To have a previous history of cancer or any cancer treatment.
• Pregnant patients.
• To participate in another intervention that could influence on the outcomes.
• To have a neurodegenerative disease that affects central or peripheral nervous system and could influence the results.