Home-based breathing exercises to reduce side effects in breast cancer treatment

Respiratory Muscle Training During Breast Cancer Treatment: Effects on the Autonomic Nervous System and Cardiotoxicity

NA · Roswell Park Cancer Institute · NCT05787834

This study is testing if a 12-week home breathing exercise program can help breast cancer patients feel better by reducing heart and lung side effects from chemotherapy.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment130 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorRoswell Park Cancer Institute (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations1 site (Buffalo, New York)
Trial IDNCT05787834 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of a 12-week home-based respiratory muscle training (RMT) program for patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. The program aims to minimize heart and lung-related side effects caused by chemotherapy, which can negatively impact quality of life. Participants will be randomized into two groups, receiving either lower or higher resistance RMT using a specialized device. The study will assess the feasibility of the program and its impact on cardiac function, exercise performance, and patient-reported symptoms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with documented breast cancer scheduled for adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with uncontrolled illnesses, prior radiation to the left chest wall, or those who are pregnant or nursing may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve the quality of life for breast cancer patients by reducing treatment-related side effects.

How similar studies have performed: While similar approaches have been explored, this specific home-based RMT program is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in this patient population.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Documented breast cancer and scheduled to receive adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy
* Age \>= 18 years old
* Cognitively capable of following direction and performing the intervention
* Able to speak, read and comprehend English language
* Understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

* Have uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
* Prior radiation to the left chest wall
* Patients with medical frailty (clinical discretion)
* Are pregnant or nursing
* Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements
* Any condition which in the Investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to receive study intervention

Where this trial is running

Buffalo, New York

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Breast Carcinoma

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.