Clinical Physiology Effects of a Cancer Survivor Rehabilitation Program on Fatigue and Quality of Life Cameron Bickel, Melissa Porter Project Mentor(s): Tim Burnham, PhD The current 5-year survival rate for all cancers is 70%, suggesting that more people are surviving with cancer. Cancer treatment is often accompanied by numerous side effects including overwhelming fatigue (cancer related fatigue) and a decrease in quality of life, making living with cancer difficult. Cancer rehabilitation programs are essential for supporting individuals as they transition from cancer patient to survivor, and should address both physical functioning and psychosocial well-being. If cancer rehabilitation programs can reduce these side effects of treatment, they should be incorporated into treatment plans to help patients throughout recovery. PURPOSE: To investigate how many weeks of a cancer rehabilitation program it takes to significantly change measures of fatigue and quality of life. METHODS: Thirteen cancer survivors (6 male, 7 female), 47-86 years, were entered into the EASE cancer rehabilitation program. This 10-week program includes education, aerobic exercise, strength training, and cognitive games. Each 90-minute session, held twice a week, includes an educational topic, aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility and balance training, with cognitive games included once per week. Measures of fatigue (Facit Fatigue scale) and quality of life (Fact G scale) were collected weekly. Results will be analyzed using a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. RESULTS: Higher scores indicate better outcomes. Fatigue scores Week 1: 24.4, Week 2: 28.0, Week 3: 30.7. Quality of life (QOL) scores Week 1: 70.1, Week 2: 67.3, Week 3: 72.7. DISCUSSION: Data collection is ongoing and will continue over the next few weeks. Preliminary findings suggest improvement in fatigue and QOL. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation (May 21, 9:30am–3:00pm) Keywords: Cancer, rehabilitation, fatigue, quality of life SOURCE Form ID: 146
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