THE INFLUENCE OF BREAST CANCER ON NEUROVASCULAR AND HEMODYNAMIC RESPONSES WHEN PHYSIOLOGICAL MANEUVERS ARE APPLIED

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer death in the female population 
in Brazil. After diagnosis and treatment of this neoplasm, sarcopenia can occur, consisting of 
loss of lean mass and decreased musculoskeletal function, which can delay recovery in these 
women. The use of long-term treatment techniques has been associated with several 
complications, mainly related to the increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD). The latent 
effects resulting from cancer treatment can alter cancer survival and generate several CVDs, 
such as heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, coronary disease, arterial 
hypertension, pericardial disease, valvular disease, and thromboembolism. The article aims 
compares the neurovascular and hemodynamic responses resulting from physiological 
maneuvers between women who had and did not have breast cancer. Forty-five female patients 
aged between 45 and 90 years were evaluated and divided into three groups: G1, physically 
active women who had breast cancer (n=15); G2: physically active women who did not have 
breast cancer (n=15);G3: Sedentary women who were not affected by breast cancer (n=15). 
The following assessments were performed: blood counts (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, 
total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL), bioimpedance, indirect calorimetry with a dark-blue face 
mask, handgrip strength with a JAMAR dynamometer, and mental stress protocol with the 
Stroop color-word test. The findings indicated that group G1 showed relatively stable 
hemodynamic responses during the tests, with an increase only in the last minute due to effort. 
Group G2 demonstrated a similar pattern but with the lowest SBP values among the groups, 
never exceeding 140 mmHg. In contrast, group G3 exhibited higher averages of body weight, 
BMI, and calorimetry, as well as significant and sustained increases in SBP throughout the 
assessments, characterizing an overweight pattern close to grade I obesity.