Overview

Resistance exercise has been shown to improve several important health variables after cancer and cancer related treatment, but unfortunately the adherence to resistance exercise is low. Typical reported exercise barriers are inconvenient location (e.g. long distance from home), exercise at an unfavorable time of the day, inadequate access to cancer-specific exercise and insufficient recommendations from healthcare providers. Thus, there is need for more research on resistance exercise with an alternative approach in cancer rehabilitation, that potentially can target a broad range of patients, despite their domicile. In Norway, the foundation "Active against cancer" has established exercise locations tareting cancer patients in several hospitals, and today they also offer digital home-based exercise sessions. Therefore, the overall research objectives are to compare the efficacy of 12 weeks digital, home-based resistance exercise program on cancer patients after treatment on functional, mental, and metabolic health, compared to the same program conducted in a studio under guidance of an instructor. The primary aim is to compare the effect on exercise adherence between digital home-based exercise program and on-site guided program on cancer patients after treatment. Secondary aims are to compare the two groups on several functional health outcomes, mental health outcomes and metabolic health markers.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• ≥ 18 years and able to give informed consent
• Previously diagnosed with any form of cancer and completed systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapies or local radiotherapy
• Have completed active cancer treatment not more than 12 months earlier or at present undergoing oral home-based treatment for stabilization or other treatments of disease or to prevent relapse
• Life expectancy of more than 12 months
• Digital opportunities at home: e.g axcess to pc, and/or ipad, email adress to log on the platform
• Able to understand Norwegian language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Co-morbidities prohibiting exercise according to protocol like serious cardic, pulmonary and other organ diseases
• Conditions caused by the cancer which prohibits exercise like previous major surgery, fractures, pain
• Still undergoing active cancer treatment that is expected to confer a high risk of bone marrow suppresion that would lead to infections, bleeding and/or severly reduced physical capacity
• Life expectancy of less than 12 months
• Reduced mental capacity and not able to give informed consent and follow the program
• Travelling distance more than 20 km from home or workplace to the two exercise locations (Gjøvik and/or Lillehammer) for patients who are candidates for randomization