Project R-15609

Time to move lung cancer survivors and tackle cancer-related fatigue (Research)

Up to 80% of lung cancer survivors report debilitating symptoms of cancer related fatigue, up to 5 year after surgery, with or without chemotherapy. Physical inactivity is a possible modifiable factor that worsens these symptoms. Current physical activity recommendations are unclear. The present project aims to identify the best physical activity program to decrease symptoms of fatigue. Cancer related fatigue symptoms vary within the same person in one day and across days. In a first work package, we will investigate whether changes in these symptoms are related to physical activity performed before and after symptoms were reported. To do this, 50 patients will report the severity of their symptom experience for 7 days, 8 times per days. Physical activity will be monitored continuously to study the directionality of the relation between symptoms and how physically active a patient is. In a second work package we will test the effect of 2 physical activity programs. Both programs are unsupervised home based programs. The first program will increase the amount of physical activity at a light intensity; the second program will increase the amount of physical activity at a moderate intensity. First, we will test the feasibility of the programs. Next, both programs will be compared in a randomized controlled trial to a group of patients receiving no intervention; after 12 weeks of intervention and 12 weeks of follow up. Primary outcome will be cancer-related fatigue.

01 January 2025 - 31 December 2028