Among participants who commenced prehabilitation, attendance, adherence, and completeness were 91.3%, 82.6%, and 85.7% with no serious adverse events, but exploratory clinical outcome estimates were imprecise and recruitment limitations and the small heterogeneous sample preclude broader conclusions regarding feasibility.
Recruitment was limited: 23 of 47 potentially eligible patients screened were recruited, randomised, and completed baseline assessments.
Among participants who commenced prehabilitation, attendance, adherence, and completeness rates were high.
Twenty participants completed the pre-surgery (T1) and post-surgery (T2) assessments.
No serious adverse events occurred; five grade 1 adverse events were recorded in the prehabilitation group.
No significant group-by-time interactions were found for cardiorespiratory fitness, health-related quality of life, or fatigue.
The authors conclude that the small heterogeneous sample and recruitment limitations restrict conclusions about feasibility and effectiveness.
This small pilot study tested whether a supervised exercise program before cancer surgery was practical and safe for people with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer. Twenty-three patients were randomly assigned either to exercise sessions 2–3 days per week while waiting for surgery or to usual care. Twenty completed all assessments. Among those who started the exercise program, attendance, adherence, and completion of assessments were high (91.3%, 82.6%, and 85.7%). No serious adverse events occurred; the five minor events (fatigue and muscle pain) were all mild, grade 1. However, recruitment was limited, and the sample was small and mixed across cancer types. The study found no significant differences between groups in fitness, quality of life, or fatigue, but it was too small to show whether the program works. This research suggests that supervised pre-surgery exercise may be safe and doable for some patients, but larger studies are needed to determine whether it improves outcomes.
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Upload Your LabsHennessy D, Shee A, Rawstorn J, Evans L, Brown S, Wallen M. (2026). Feasibility and safety of an exercise-based prehabilitation intervention before cancer surgery: a pilot randomised controlled trial.. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11356-9