Oesophageal cancer patients are often faced with cancer treatment and surgery. Cancer treatment decreases fitness and reduced fitness before surgery is linked to increased complications (i.e. longer recovery time). Exercise training from the point of cancer diagnosis may improve fitness during this time. Participants will be asked to take part in an exercise programme before surgery. The aim of this project is to see if an exercise programme, carried out either under supervision in a group or at home, can be beneficial, (both physically and psychologically) in preparation for, and recovery from, surgery.
The exercise programme will involve strength, aerobic and balance components, and will begin as soon as possible after diagnosis. It will be offered to people who are scheduled for surgery and/or chemo-radiotherapy. The exercise programme during chemo-radiotherapy will be gentler than the programme offered after chemo-radiotherapy. The general aim of the research is to assess whether it is feasible to exercise train this patient group in the community.
Outcome measures include uptake and adherence to the programme, questionnaires (assessing psychological wellness, expectations, fear of surgery and physical activity), body composition tests and fitness tests (strength and aerobic fitness). Results from this study will help design a larger study.
