CompletedInterventional

Is a lifestyle intervention designed to support muscle mass in people with advanced bowel cancer during their chemotherapy feasible?

Advanced bowel cancer and its treatments can often cause people to lose muscle mass, leaving them feeling tired and weak. This trial is investigating whether a personalised lifestyle programme can help protect muscle strength and improve daily wellbeing during chemotherapy. Participants will take part in a 12-week programme based at Belfast City Hospital. Each week, they meet one-on-one with a trained exercise and nutrition coach in a hospital gym. Together, they will practice safe strength exercises, set realistic activity goals, and find ways to eat more protein. Researchers will check fitness levels, muscle mass, and quality of life before and after the programme. The main goal is to see if this kind of physical support is practical and enjoyable for people having cancer treatment, potentially helping them handle chemotherapy better and maintain their independence.

At a glance

Status

Completed

Sponsor

Queen's University Belfast

Enrolment target

Start

26 Jan 2025

Estimated completion

01 Jul 2026

Advanced (unresectable and/or metastatic) colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy

What is this study about?

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. When bowel cancer is advanced, it means the cancer has spread or cannot be completely removed by surgery. People facing this diagnosis usually receive chemotherapy to help control the disease. However, both the cancer itself and chemotherapy can cause people to lose muscle mass and strength, leading to severe tiredness and making everyday tasks much harder.

Past studies show that safe strength exercises and eating enough protein can stop muscle loss and reduce extreme fatigue in people with cancer. Maintaining strong muscles may also help people manage treatment side effects better and feel more in control. Despite these known benefits, doctors do not yet know the best way to deliver this kind of support to people with advanced bowel cancer while they go through chemotherapy.

This study, based in Belfast, tests whether a tailored 12-week diet and exercise programme is practical, safe, and helpful. By learning directly from patients and their families, researchers hope to design supportive care programmes that become a standard part of NHS cancer care in the future.

Key takeaways

A 12-week study testing personal exercise and nutrition support for people with advanced bowel cancer.
Involves one-to-one weekly sessions with a specialist coach in a hospital gym.
Focuses on safe strength exercises and eating enough protein to protect muscle mass.
Aims to reduce fatigue and help patients cope better with chemotherapy side effects.
Completely voluntary, safe, and run alongside your normal NHS cancer treatment.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to adults aged 18 and older who have been diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) and are planning to start a specific type of chemotherapy. To take part, you must be up and about for at least part of the day, able to attend the hospital gym in Belfast, and have approval from your cancer doctor confirming that gentle strength exercises are safe for you.

You cannot join if you have severe nerve damage (such as numbness or painful tingling in your hands or feet), serious memory problems, or another health condition that makes exercise unsafe. You also cannot participate if you are having treatment for a second, separate cancer or have recently had major surgery and are still recovering.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

I am aged 18 or over.
I have been diagnosed with advanced (stage 3 or 4) bowel cancer.
I am due to start chemotherapy (fluorouracil-based treatment).
It has been at least 4 weeks since any major surgery, and I feel recovered.
I am able to travel to Belfast City Hospital once a week.
My doctor agrees that gentle strength training is safe for me.

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to join, your participation will last for around 12 weeks. At the start, the study team will measure your fitness, check your muscle mass using special weighing scales, ask you to track what you eat in a simple food diary, and have you fill out short questionnaires about how you feel.

During the 12-week programme, you will visit the outpatient gym at Belfast City Hospital once a week for a private session with a physical activity and nutrition coach. Your coach will guide you through gentle, safe strength exercises and help you set realistic goals for staying active and eating more protein at home. You will continue to receive your regular chemotherapy as planned by your healthcare team.

At the end of the 12 weeks, the team will repeat the initial health checks to see how you have progressed. You will also be invited to a friendly, recorded interview to share your thoughts on what worked well and what could be improved. You will then be given advice on how to keep active safely on your own.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part may help you feel stronger, reduce treatment-related fatigue, improve your mood, and help you cope better with chemotherapy side effects. However, these benefits cannot be guaranteed. The exercises are tailored to your abilities, but you might feel mild muscle soreness or joint stiffness, similar to what you might feel after starting any new physical activity. More serious risks, such as falls, heart strain, or damage around a stoma, are rare because you are supervised by a trained professional. Giving small blood samples may also cause slight bruising. Taking part is completely voluntary, and you are free to stop the study at any time without your regular NHS medical care being affected in any way.

Locations (1)

Belfast City Hospital
Approximate
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Common questions

Do I have to pay for the gym sessions or coaching?

No, all coaching sessions, fitness tests, and study materials are provided completely free of charge.

Will taking part interfere with my chemotherapy?

No, the programme is designed to work alongside your regular chemotherapy, and your safety is checked by your oncology team throughout.

What if I feel too tired or unwell on an exercise day?

Your coach will always adjust or reschedule your session to match how you are feeling that day; you will never be pushed beyond your comfort level.

Can a family member or friend come along?

Yes, family members or close friends are welcome to support you, and they may also be invited to share their views in a short interview if they wish.

Do I need to live in Belfast to participate?

The sessions take place at Belfast City Hospital, so you must be able to travel there weekly, though it may be possible to transfer your cancer care to Belfast if you live outside the area.

How to find out more

Vicky Coyle

nictn@belfasttrust.hscni.net +44 (0) 28 9615 2652 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.