An evidence-based intervention (“Fit for Treatment”) to prevent cancer treatment-induced toxicities in cancer patients
*Registrations for this study have now closed*
The purpose of this research study is to implement and evaluate a cancer-related fatigue and neurotoxicity-targeted intervention during treatments for cancer (such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and/or immunotherapy).
Who is it for: You may be eligible to join this study if you are aged 18 years or more and are a cancer patient prescribed a chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, and/or immunotherapy regimen.
Study details: Participants in this study will be randomly allocated (by chance) to either 12-weeks of an exercise intervention or usual care. Participants in the exercise intervention group complete cardiorespiratory/aerobic, resistance, balance and stretching exercises on 3 days of the week; which are individually tailored to each intervention participant. Participants in both groups are required to undertake assessments both before, during and after the 12-week intervention period. These assessments are related to cancer-related fatigue, neurotoxicity development, cardiovascular disease risk development and other health measures (e.g. body composition, blood markers, overall body strength, cardiorespiratory fitness). Some participants will also be invited to attend a focus group discussion on the quality and feasibility of the intervention after intervention completion.
You'll receive:
Whether a participant is randomised to the intervention or control group, their involvement in this study will enable us to collect data which will help to further the knowledge of the effects of exercise on toxicity development or prevention, as well as cardiovascular function, in the growing number of men and women affected by cancer-related side effects and conditions following cancer therapy.
Additionally, there are potential benefits for participants randomised to the exercise intervention group within this study, however these cannot be guaranteed. Greater physical activity involvement has been shown to be strongly associated with greater post-cancer treatment quality of life and function. Participants will also be provided with 12 weeks of closely-monitored and highly individualised exercise training by qualified exercise professionals free of charge. Participants randomised to the control group within the study, will receive no such benefits but will still continue with their usual health care. Finally, no matter what group a participant is randomly assigned to, they will be provided free of charge with gold-standard measures of their aerobic fitness and vascular health.
Eligibility:
- Cancer patients prescribed any anti-cancer treatment
- >18 years of age
- ≥1-month post-surgery
- No comorbid condition or falls risk that could prevent safe completion of intervention
- Cognitively capable of consent
Register your interest:
*Registrations for this study have now closed*
This study has been approved by The University of Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee [Approval No. 2018000906]