Exercise and Relaxation Intervention in Lymphoma patients Version 1

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A comparison of Exercise Training with Relaxation Intervention in lymphoma patients post-chemotherapy.

  • IRAS ID

    119778

  • Contact name

    Ruth Pettengell

  • Contact email

    rpetteng@sgul.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    St. George's University

  • Research summary

    Significant improvements have been made in the survival rates in cancer patients. However, cancer survivors report several complaints which may be due to the disease process as well as adverse effects of treatment exposures. Commonly reported consequences of cancer treatment include fatigue, weakness, pain, depression, anxiety, reduced performance status, decreased self-esteem and decreased quality of life.
    There is a large amount of literature demonstrating the positive effects of exercise on cancer survivors. There has also been alot of studies carried out on the effect of psychosocial and ‘mind-body’ interventions such as relaxation, meditation, yoga, tai-chi and hypnosis on cancer survivors. Such interventions also have demonstrated positive results on fatigue, physical performance and quality of life in cancer survivors. Hence it appears that both exercise and interventions such as relaxation have a positive effect on both physical and psychosocial complaints of cancer survivors. These interventions are carried out in different ways, have different requirements and perceptions of the two can also be very different. No trial to date has been carried out comparing the effects of these interventions. Furthermore, majority of the above research has been carried out on the most prevalent cancers including breast and prostate cancer, and other survivor groups such as the haematological cancer sites remain understudied.
    This study aims to compare the effect of exercise and relaxation interventions on adult lymphoma survivors following chemotherapy. Subjects will be recruited at St. George’s Hospital London and following informed consent will be randomised to an exercise or a relaxation programme for a duration of 12 weeks. Data on their physical fitness and quality of life will be collected using some physical testing and questionnaires before and after intervention. Findings of this study will add to the evidence-base for care pathways for lymphoma patients in particular and cancer survivors in general.

  • REC name

    London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/LO/1327

  • Date of REC Opinion

    14 Nov 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion