Aerobic Exercise in Improving Cognitive Function in Patients with Stage 0-IIIA Breast Cancer

Inclusion Criteria

• Postmenopausal women, defined by lack of a menstrual period for an entire year
• Able to speak and read English
• Completed a minimum of 8 years of education
• Diagnosed with stage 0, I, II, or IIIa breast cancer, confirmed by medical record
• Eligible to receive, but not yet begun, aromatase inhibitor therapy
• Will be two weeks post-breast conserving surgery or three weeks post-breast conserving surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy or four weeks post-mastectomy at the start of participation

Exclusion Criteria

• Prior diagnoses of any other type of cancer (excluding some skin cancers)
• Clinical evidence of metastatic disease
• Any of the following breast cancer surgery complications; persistent seroma requiring aspiration, wound dehiscence, infection, prolonged drain output, lymphedema
• Reconstructive surgery
• Any significant medical condition that would preclude them from exercising (e.g., congestive heart failure, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia or other symptoms that indicate increased risk for an acute cardiovascular or respiratory event)
• Self-report of hospitalization for psychiatric illness within the last two years
• History of neurologic illness such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, multi-infarct dementia, or Parkinson’s disease or history of dementia or chronic fatigue syndrome
• Any use of an assisted walking device
• Eating disorders
• History of substance abuse
• Recent history of falls or balance problems