Fontvieille Adeline1, Parent-Roberge Hugo1, Maréchal René1, Fülöp Tàmàs2, Riesco Eléonor3, Pavic Michel4. 1. Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 2500 boulevard de l'université, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada; Research Centre on Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 rue Belvédère Sud, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4C4, Canada. 2. Research Centre on Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 rue Belvédère Sud, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4C4, Canada; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12 Avenue Nord, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada. 3. Faculty of Physical Activity Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 2500 boulevard de l'université, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada; Research Centre on Aging, CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS, 1036 rue Belvédère Sud, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 4C4, Canada. Electronic address: E.Riesco@USherbrooke.ca. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, 3001 12 Avenue Nord, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHUS, 12 Avenue Nord, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most debilitating side effect occurring with cancer treatment accumulation. Although combining aerobic and resistance exercise is an effective strategy to counteract this side effect, there is a paucity of studies performed with older patients even if this is the most affected population. Hence, the objective was to assess the feasibility and the impact of a twelve-week exercise program performed during cancer treatment on CRF, quality of life, and physical capacity in older adults diagnosed with early-stage cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with cancer (70 ± 4 years) beginning systemic cancer treatments were recruited and randomized into two groups: 1) aerobic and resistance training (MIX) and 2) stretching (CON). Both groups were supervised three times/week for a total of twelve weeks. The primary outcome was feasibility and secondary outcomes were CRF (FACIT-Fatigue questionnaire), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire) and physical capacity (6MWT and grip strength). RESULTS: In Mix, both exercise adherence (88.2%) and completion rate (86.6%) were high, which suggests that exercise is feasible in an oncologic context. In the MIX group, HRQoL improved (p = 0.05) and CRF was clinically, ableit non-significantly (p = 0.09), decreased. Concerning physical capacity, MIX showed a clinical improvement in the 6MWT during the intervention (p = 0.002) compared to CON. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that, in older patients with cancer undergoing adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic treatments, a mixed exercise program is feasible, well tolerated and might help mitigate CRF and HRQoL decrements.
OBJECTIVES: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most debilitating side effect occurring with cancer treatment accumulation. Although combining aerobic and resistance exercise is an effective strategy to counteract this side effect, there is a paucity of studies performed with older patients even if this is the most affected population. Hence, the objective was to assess the feasibility and the impact of a twelve-week exercise program performed during cancer treatment on CRF, quality of life, and physical capacity in older adults diagnosed with early-stage cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients with cancer (70 ± 4 years) beginning systemic cancer treatments were recruited and randomized into two groups: 1) aerobic and resistance training (MIX) and 2) stretching (CON). Both groups were supervised three times/week for a total of twelve weeks. The primary outcome was feasibility and secondary outcomes were CRF (FACIT-Fatigue questionnaire), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire) and physical capacity (6MWT and grip strength). RESULTS: In Mix, both exercise adherence (88.2%) and completion rate (86.6%) were high, which suggests that exercise is feasible in an oncologic context. In the MIX group, HRQoL improved (p = 0.05) and CRF was clinically, ableit non-significantly (p = 0.09), decreased. Concerning physical capacity, MIX showed a clinical improvement in the 6MWT during the intervention (p = 0.002) compared to CON. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that, in older patients with cancer undergoing adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic treatments, a mixed exercise program is feasible, well tolerated and might help mitigate CRF and HRQoL decrements.