Hormonal Adjuvant Therapy and Its Impact on Function

Course overview

The most prevalent cancers in the United States today, breast and prostate, are commonly treated with a long-term regimen of hormonal drug agents proven to reduce the growth of cancer cells and reduce the risk of disease recurrence. These drug agents also incite significant interactions systemically that contribute to a high rate of functional impairment including bone density loss, pain, increased adiposity, and reduced lean mass in these patients. Guidelines for hormonal therapies recommend treatment for 3-5 years post completion of cancer treatment. The protracted timeline for treatment and the aggregate burden of these side effects increase the risk for long-term disability and frailty in cancer survivors and warrant specific rehabilitative interventions to mitigate their impact.