Dance Intervention in Breast Cancer Treatment

Globally, breast cancer (BC) is among the most frequent neoplasms, ranking as the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the most prevalent among women. Its treatment varies according to the clinical stage of the disease and tumor type, as determined by medical management. The drugs used to treat breast cancer are considered systemic therapies and can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or directly into the bloodstream. These treatments often lead to adverse effects, such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, among others. In this context, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of a dance program on pain, fatigue, quality of life, balance, functional capacity, motor ability, flexibility, self-esteem, sleep, anxiety, and depression in women undergoing breast cancer treatment. This is a randomized clinical trial involving patients undergoing cancer therapy, who will be randomly assigned to two groups: Dance Program Group (DPG) and Control Group (CG). The intervention will last 12 weeks, during which the DPG will participate in 50-minute dance sessions twice a week, while the CG will continue their routine activities. Dance session intensity will be monitored through heart rate and the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale (6-20), measured 25 minutes into each session according to musical tempo (slow, moderate, and fast). Outcomes will be assessed using validated instruments: Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS-P), EORTC QLQ-C30, Berg Balance Scale, Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Lower Extremity Motor Coordination Test (LEMOCOT), Schober Test, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Data will be collected at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 12 weeks, and will be analyzed using multivariate methods to evaluate the effects of group, time, and their interaction. Statistical analyses will be conducted using SPSS software version 24.0, adopting a 5% significance level. Expected results: A reduction in adverse effects of cancer treatment across the investigated domains (pain, fatigue, quality of life, balance, functional capacity, motor ability, flexibility, self-esteem, sleep, anxiety, and depression), thereby promoting better health outcomes.