Exercising Through Breast Cancer: A Case Study on Strength Training During Active Treatment

Abstract

Introducton: This case study examines a 27-year-old woman, an active powerlifter, going through breast cancer treatment while maintaining a periodized structured strength training regimen. Methods: By documenting her experiences through chemotherapy cycles, this case study identifies the clinical implications of individualized exercise protocols, focusing on the timing and intensity of workouts relative to chemotherapy. Through strategic timing and symptom-informed adjustments, the patient preserved 87–93% of pre-treatment strength levels across major lifts. Results: Findings suggest that delayed post-treatment exercise, and moderate-to-high-intensity workouts effectively mitigate side effects while preserving muscle mass and strength. Conclusions: These insights highlight the potential role and feasibility of individualized high-intensity exercise protocols in mitigating chemotherapy side effects and preserving physical and psychological resilience, offering generalizable recommendations for integrating exercise into oncology care among advanced athletes. These findings apply primarily to elite athletes with established high-intensity training backgrounds and may not generalize to broader populations, even with individualized exercise prescriptions.