# Understanding Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Black Breast Cancer Survivors

> **NIH NIH F99** · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · 2020 · $42,240

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among
women in the United States. With effective treatments and advancements in technology, the proportion of
women who survive breast cancer five years and beyond is increasing. Despite the continued progress in
survival, black women experience suboptimal five-year breast cancer specific survival, adverse cancer
treatment effects (pain and swelling from lymphedema), and quality of life (QOL). Most interventions targeting
physical activity (PA) have shown to improve QOL in predominantly white cancer survivors. There are critical
gaps in our understanding of PA and QOL among post treatment black women with a history of breast cancer.
First, there is not enough evidence to establish whether the effect of PA on QOL is smaller or larger in black
women compared to white women. Second, there are limited descriptions of QOL concerns and experiences in
relation to PA among black women. This study will address these issues in the following aims by: 1)
investigating the effect of PA on social wellbeing, emotional wellbeing, and body image among post treatment
black and white breast cancer survivors with lymphedema in the Women In Steady Exercise Research
(WISER) Survivor Trial, 2) describing the QOL experiences and concerns in relation to PA among black
women with a history of breast cancer in Pennsylvania using semi structured interviews and a narrative
approach, and 3) assessing the association between PA, social, emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical
wellbeing among black women with a history of breast cancer without lymphedema in the Black Women’s
Health Study. The long term objective of this fellowship is to understand this association to increase the
potential for medical and health professionals to recommend the use and promote the importance of PA to
improve QOL among black women. Another long term objective of this fellowship is to increase awareness on
the factors that influence QOL and PA, individual perceptions and descriptions of QOL, and unique QOL
concerns and experiences to help improve QOL among black women breast cancer survivors who have worse
health outcomes. This fellowship will help to inform clinical practice, refine exercise programs, promote the
development of behavioral interventions, and advance scientific knowledge on QOL and PA among black
women.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065244
- **Project number:** 1F99CA253762-01
- **Recipient organization:** PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Natasha Renee Burse
- **Activity code:** F99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $42,240
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-06 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065244

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065244, Understanding Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Black Breast Cancer Survivors (1F99CA253762-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065244. Licensed CC0.

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