Episode 8 – Titch Madzima: Weight training and protein supplementation in breast cancer survivors.

About this Episode

Titch is an assistant professor at Elon University, where he investigates the effects of different exercise interventions on cancer survivors.

 

In today’s show, we talk about Titch’s dissertation research, where he looked at the effects of protein supplementation in combination with weight training in breast cancer survivors. We have a great chat about the study itself, the results and some of the practical applications and take home points. We also chat about some common side effects experienced by cancer survivors, such as lymphedema and peripheral neuropathy and how exercise can be modified to account for these.

 

You can find Titch on twitter @TitchMadzima, or contact him directly via email at [email protected]. You can find me on twitter @CiaranFairman, or go to reachbeyondcancer.com to find out more about REACH and our services.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

Show Notes

 

4.30 – Intro to the study and rationale for using a protein supplement with breast cancer survivors.

 

6.50 – The exercise prescription, how the groups were broken up and what the protein supplement looked like.

 

9.30 – How to progress resistance exercise.

 

10.45 – Exercise progression can look different in a survivor 3-4 years’ post treatment, than someone who’s going through active treatment and experience severe side effects.

 

15.30 – What lymphedema is, how it’s measures and the effects of the weight training on its symptoms. The importance of educating breast cancer survivors on how weight training can lymphedema.

 

20.15 – Peripheral Neuropathy. What it is and some exercise modifications that can be made around it.

 

26.00 – Details of the protein supplementation given to participants and how that affected participants normal protein intake.

 

32.00 – Improvements in strength and body composition as a result of the 12-week weight training program.

 

34.00 – The difference between advice given to a participant in a study vs. those in a clinical setting.

 

35.45 – The value of small changes across time vs. trying to change everything at once.

 

36.50 – Seeing improvements in strength and body composition with an average age of 60. Changing the stigma of working out as an older female.

 

39.30 – Having two exercise groups in a research study vs. an exercise group vs. a group that doesn’t exercise.

 

42.00 – The challenges of recruiting for research studies in this area.

 

46.00 – Advice for professionals interested in working with cancer survivors.

 

48.00 – Advice for cancer survivors looking to get started with an exercise program.