title: At cancer diagnosis: a 'window of opportunity' for behavioural change towards physical activity. A randomised feasibility study in patients with colon and breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Challenges exist in identifying, recruiting and motivating sedentary patients with cancer to initiate physical activity towards recommended levels. We hypothesise that the onset period of adjuvant chemotherapy can be 'the open window of opportunity' to identify and motivate sedentary patients with breast and colon cancers, at risk for developing coronary heart disease, to initiate and sustain lifestyle changes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the feasibility of oncologists/nurses screening for physical inactivity, in order to identify and recruit an at-risk population of sedentary patients with breast or colon cancer at the onset of adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, the study will examine the adherence to one of two multimodal exercise interventions lasting 12 weeks; (1) hospital-based, high intensity, group exercise intervention (2) home-based, low intensity, individual, pedometer intervention. Both arms will be compared with a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  All newly referred patients will be screened for sedentary behaviour, using national recommendations. Testing at baseline, 6, 12 and 39 weeks will include; (1) physiological testing (VO2-peak, one repetition maximum muscle strength and lung function (2) fasting full body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan (3) fasting blood glucose, insulin, lipids and cholesterols, (4) psychometric questionnaires (general well-being, quality of life, anxiety and depression, motivational readiness). The randomised controlled trial feasibility design is selected in order to examine barriers for recruitment, programme adherence, safety aspects and potential efficacy to the interventions during adjuvant chemotherapy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Scientific Committee of the Capital Region (case No. H-1-2011-131) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (j. No. 2011-41-6349) approved the study. Data will be entered and locked into a database hosted by the Copenhagen Trial Unit, Rigshosptialet. Data will be available for analyses to project members and the trial statistician after the 45 included patients have completed the 12-week test. Results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN24901641.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rigshospitalet, The University Hospitals Centre for Health Care Research UCSF Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lillelund
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Bent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ejlertsen
authors.forename: Lone
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nørgaard
authors.forename: Karl Bang
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vadstrup
authors.forename: Finn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Diderichsen
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hendriksen
authors.forename: Kira
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloomquist
authors.forename: Lis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Adamsen
keywords: CHEMOTHERAPY; CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY; ONCOLOGY; SPORTS MEDICINE