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Chemo Brain Prehab Project
Sponsor: Dr. Chris Gaffney
Summary
Colorectal cancer is 37% higher in the North West than the national average and is treated by chemotherapy, including fluorouracil, capecitabine, and oxaliplatin. A side effect of these drugs is loss of memory, forgetfulness, and general brain fog, which can persist for months after the end of treatment. These symptoms are collectively known as 'chemo-brain'. An existing prehabilitation intervention that has been previously developed will be used, which increases fitness and reduces hospital length of stay in colorectal cancer surgery patients, to try to improve the symptoms of chemo-brain in those undergoing chemotherapy and improve quality of life.
Official title: Chemo Brain Prehab Project: Improving Brain Health After Chemotherapy Through Prehabilitation
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
60 Years - 85 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
86
Start Date
2026-01-30
Completion Date
2027-09-16
Last Updated
2026-01-14
Healthy Volunteers
No
Interventions
Exercise Prehabilitation
The prehabilitation group will be asked to undertake a remote exercise programme. The home-based exercise sessions will take place four times per week. Two will be unsupervised exercise sessions, and the other two will be online supervised exercise sessions. Each session will last for approximately 40 minutes for a minimum of 3 weeks, a maximum of 4 weeks. Exercise tolerance will be built up from 2 supervised sessions (week 1) up to the recommended four sessions per week (week 3/4). The number of sessions will be sustained throughout chemotherapy until the end of chemotherapy (visit 3). The participants will be remotely supervised by a qualified exercise instructor. They will have a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise within each session. It will be individualised and tailored to their physical abilities. The exercises will target their upper body (arms and shoulders) and legs. Exercise programmes, videos, and links to supervised sessions will be provided.
Multivitamins
Multivitamins will be given following the first testing visit until the third visit (following the last chemotherapy round). The multivitamins will be taken daily before and during chemotherapy. The multivitamin supplement contains a combination of 24 essential vitamins (vitamin A, D2, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, Biotin, nicotinamide, pantothenic acid and folic acid), minerals and trace elements (calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iodine, manganese, selenium, chromium, and molybdenum). Each multivitamin and mineral plays a vital role in the efficient daily maintenance of many body processes.
Standard Care (in control arm)
Participants with colorectal cancer will receive chemotherapy treatment.
Locations (3)
East Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Blackburn, Lancashire, United Kingdom
University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary
Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom