The McGill Cancer Nutrition and Rehabilitation Program
Journal Articles
Overview
Research
Identity
Additional Document Info
View All
Overview
abstract
9623 Background: Cancer rehabilitation is a process that assists the individual with cancer to obtain optimal physical, social, psychological, and vocational functioning within the limits created by the disease and treatment. The McGill Cancer Nutrition and Rehabilitation (CNR) program developed as a result of the ever-increasing demand to address the individual cancer patients and their needs, as well as on achieving optimal tumour-related outcomes. Methods: To assess the effect of an interdisciplinary 8-week rehabilitation program on the functional outcomes of patients with advanced cancer. Sixty-five patients were assessed prior to and following an 8-week interdisciplinary cancer rehabilitation program consisting of medical, nursing, physiotherapy and nutritional interventions. All patients were evaluated with the Edmonton Symptom assessment Score (ESAS), Distress thermometer (DT), Patient Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), Simmonds Functional Assessment Tool and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). A paired t-test comparing patient’ pre and posttest scores was used. Results: Thirty three male and 32 female participants were enrolled. Their median age was 57 years (25 to 80). Their cancer diagnoses were: gastro-esophageal (20%), hepatobiliary (19%), breast (17%), hematological (12%), lung, ENT and sarcoma (9% each), colorectal (3%) and CNS lymphoma (2%) There was a significant improvement after an 8-week cancer rehabilitation program in strength (p=. 02), appetite (p< 0.001), nausea (p< =0.02), nervousness (p< 0.001) sleepiness (p=0.01), shortness of breath (p=0.02), depression (p< 0.001), DT (p< 0.001), total PG-SGA score (p< 0.001) and 6MWT (p=0.001). Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that participation in a cancer rehabilitation program ameliorates symptoms and global distress resulting in an increase in physical activities. We can conclude that participation in the Cancer Rehabilitation Program is beneficial. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
