BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide, and depressive symptoms are disturbing side effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Physical activity and exercise have emerged as an alternative treatment in handling psychological distress throughout breast cancer survivorship. AIM: The aim of this review was to present the results of (1) physical activity and (2) exercise interventions in terms of type and duration regarding depressive symptoms among breast cancer survivors during and after treatment. The hypothesis was that cancer survivors who are engaged with physical activity will demonstrate statistically significant lower levels of depressive symptoms when compared with non-exercising control groups. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Elsevier and Google Scholar for recent articles published between January 2011 and November 2016. Fourteen randomised control trials with 1,701 patients in total were assessed. RESULTS: Significant differences in levels were found between exercise intervention groups and control groups, while moderate aerobic exercise interventions with an optimal duration of >= 135min for up to 12 weeks are significantly more beneficial in depressive symptoms when it comes to patients under treatment than resistance, aerobicandresistance training and yoga interventions. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that when progressive exercise programmes are prescribed according to the individual needs, capabilities and preferences of breast cancer survivors, they offer a valid alternative to depression mood management throughout the course of survivorship.

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