Recruiting

Sustainable Implementation of the EXCEL Exercise Oncology Program Across Canada

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06960291

PhaseNA

Enrollment740

SponsorUniversity of Calgary

Age18 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Cancer, Prostate Cancers, Breast Cancers, Colon Cancer, Lung Cancers

About this study

EXCEL will provide online and, where feasible, in-person exercise programs to individuals living with and beyond cancer (ILWBC). Research has shown that targeted programs that include tailored exercise prescriptions are more successful in helping individuals with chronic disease to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routines. While ILWBC are advised by healthcare professionals (HCPs) to engage in exercise, there is a lack of cancer-specific exercise programs and cancer-trained exercise specialists in Canada, outside of the research setting. Considering the negative impact cancer and its treatments have on fitness and physical activity levels, community-based efforts towards improving access, uptake and maintenance of exercise programming are needed. This study will evaluate the benefits of a community-based or online EXCEL exercise program for people living with and beyond cancer across Canada, using a streamlined intake process compared to the original EXCEL Study (HREBA.CC-20-0098, NCT04478851). This 8 to 12-week program (intervention) will be delivered in-person or over virtual platform. It includes twice weekly supervised exercise classes.

Interventions

Behavioral: Group Exercise Classes — Participants will take part in a combination of aerobic, resistance, balance, and flexibility exercises delivered in a circuit-type class setting, twice weekly for a 8-12-week period (duration of intervention depends on scheduling logistics for the coordinating hubs and their spokes sites). The exercise sessions will be conducted in groups with a ratio of up to 15 participants per instructor. The program follows exercise progression principles (i.e., frequency, intensity, time, type, overload and progression) over the 8-12-weeks, with tailoring of any exercise to meet individual participant needs as required, in order to promote fitness and wellness benefits.

Primary outcomes

Physical Activity Level (Baseline to one year)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * have or had a diagnosis of cancer; * be 18 years or older; * be able to participate in low-intensity levels of activity, at minimum; * be pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), have received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, have a referral from their healthcare team indicating they have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise; * be able to provide informed written consent in English or French Exclusion Criteria: * does not or did not have a cancer diagnosis * is under the age of 18 * is unable to participate in mild exercise, at minimum * is not pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), has not received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, doesn't have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise * unable to read/write in English * for online programs, does not have internet or computer access

Study locations

University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N1N4 Canada
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z7 Canada
Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4R2 Canada
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1 Canada
Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-09-27.