Exercise is known to facilitate physical and emotional adjustment among women treated for breast cancer, and exercise exerts a profound effect on clinical depression. However, the effect of exercise on reducing clinical depression among breast cancer patients has not been demonstrated, especially among ethnic minority women who have a higher incidence of depression and higher mortality following breast cancer. First, literature is presented to assess exercise effects on depression among women with breast cancer. Second, we present the results of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of a structured exercise intervention on depression and exercise behavior in a multiethnic sample of women with early stage breast cancer enrolled prior to the start of adjuvant treatment. Results suggest that, in comparison to population norms, the rate of depression was higher in breast cancer patients. Analyses further showed that the intervention significantly increased self-reported exercise and reduced depression. These data suggest that the beneficial effects of exercise may extend to breast cancer patients with depression and may be initiated prior to and during cancer treatment.

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