title: Pragmatic lifestyle intervention in patients recovering from colon cancer: a randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of a pragmatic lifestyle intervention in patients who had recently completed surgery and chemotherapy for colon cancer and to obtain preliminary data of its impact on important health outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, controlled pilot trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  University rehabilitation facility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen (N=18) colon cancer survivors (mean age=69y; range, 52-80y), Dukes stage A to C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomized 6 to 24 months postoperatively to either a 12-week program of combined exercise and dietary advice or standard treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exercise and dietary behavior, fatigue, health-related quality of life (QOL), aerobic exercise tolerance, functional capacity, muscle strength, and anthropometery were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adherences to supervised and independent exercise during the intervention were 90% and 94%, respectively, and there was low attrition (6%). The lifestyle intervention elicited improvements in exercise behavior (P=.068), fatigue (P=.005), aerobic exercise tolerance (P=.010), chair sit-to-stand performance (P=.003), and waist-to-hip ratio (P=.002). A positive change in dietary fiber intake (P=.044) was also observed in the intervention group. No change in QOL was observed (P=.795).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results suggest that a pragmatic lifestyle intervention implemented 6 to 24 months after primary treatment for colon cancer was feasible. We observed a significant impact on dietary behavior, fatigue, aerobic exercise tolerance, functional capacity, and waist-to-hip ratio. These findings need to be confirmed with a larger-scale definitive randomized controlled trial.
authors.affiliation: eNIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit, Sheffield Foundation Trust National Health Service Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daley
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crank
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shorthouse
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saxton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005221:Fatigue / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers