Walk on: A Community-based Approach to Increase Physical Activity Among Men Treated for Colorectal Cancer

Walk on: A Community-based Approach to Promote Participation in Physical Activity Among Men Treated for Colorectal Cancer

In Canada, over 102,900 men are diagnosed with cancer each year. Of these, 81,000 are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 65% are expected to survive the disease for at least 5 years. Men who have completed treatment for colorectal cancer face many adverse physical, cognitive, psychological, and social effects. The Wellness Beyond Cancer Program at The Ottawa Hospital is a cancer survivorship program that helps people who have completed treatment for cancer, including men diagnosed with colorectal cancer, manage these effects. The Wellness Beyond Cancer Program does this through education and referral to supportive care services and programs offered throughout the city of Ottawa.

Group-based physical activity programs are one of the varied services and programs available to adults diagnosed with cancer in Ottawa. Such programs are offered through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (http://www.ottawacancer.ca) and Breast Cancer Action Ottawa (http://bcaott.ca). Research on these programs show that group-based physical activity can improve disease and treatment-related effects while promoting overall quality of life amongst women with cancer. However, few of these programs have targeted men, even though their needs and preferences have been shown to be very different from women. While men diagnosed with colorectal cancer might also benefit from group-based physical activity programs offered in the community, it is not known if such programs would effectively reach them and what the impact would be on their quality of life after cancer treatment.

It is believed that a men's group-based walking program could be an effective way to reach men and promote quality of life after cancer treatment. Therefore, a sustainable 8-week group-based walking program was developed. This project will seek to explore the feasibility and potential benefits of the program among men who have completed treatment for colorectal cancer and who are referred to the program from staff at the Wellness Beyond Cancer Program in a prospective single-arm trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men 18 years of age or older;
2. Have completed treatment for colorectal cancer <1 year;
3. Willing to provide informed consent to participate in this study and willing to follow the study protocol;
4. Have the ability to walk without the use of an assistive device (including a cane) or the help of another person;
5. Able to read and understand English;
6. Medically cleared to participate in the walking program as determined by their referring Wellness Beyond Cancer Program healthcare provider.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Congestive heart failure, clinically significant aortic stenosis, history of cardiac arrest, use of a cardiac defibrillator, uncontrolled angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, major heart surgery, stroke, or pulmonary embolus;
2. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure>200 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure >110 mm Hg);
3. The use of supplemental oxygen;
4. Severe arthritis (i.e., osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis);
5. History of chest pain or severe shortness of breath either at rest or when engaging in physical activity;
6. Hip fracture, hip or knee replacement in the past 6 months;
7. Currently enrolled in another study involving a physical activity intervention.