The Impact of Lifestyle Medicine on Quality of Life in Female Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objectives: This systematic review aims to critically evaluate the outcomes and characteristics of lifestyle medicine interventions among breast cancer survivors (BCS), with a particular emphasis on improvements in various dimensions of quality of life (QoL). Methods: A comprehensive search of the literature was conducted to identify original articles published in English from September 2012 to July 2024. Databases included PubMed, Embase, and secondary sources such as BMC, Sage Journals, Korea Science and Google Scholar. Eligible studies encompassed randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and quasi-experimental designs that assessed the impact of lifestyle medicine interventions on female BCS. The search period extended from March 2023 to July 4, 2024. Results: A total of eight studies were included, four of which demonstrated high methodological quality, while the remainder exhibited moderate to low quality. Due to the exploratory nature of the field and the heterogeneity of the outcomes, a meta-analysis was not performed. Instead, results were synthesized through stratified analysis. Notable improvements were observed in general health-related QoL indicators, including reductions in fatigue, body mass index (BMI), and physical pain, as well as enhancements in sleep quality and mental health status. Several studies, despite being interventional, did not report statistical analyses. Conclusion: The findings suggest that lifestyle medicine interventions can exert a beneficial effect on the QoL of female BCS. These results highlight the importance of integrating comprehensive lifestyle strategies into survivorship care. Further robust studies addressing all six pillars of lifestyle medicine are warranted to substantiate and expand these preliminary observations.