Impact of Prehabilitation in Oncology Via Exercise- Bone Marrow Transplant

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant may have the potential for severe side effects, including
functional (reduced aerobic capacity, reduced muscle strength) and psychosocial (e.g. reduced
quality of life, increased fatigue) detriments.

Evidence shows that exercise is considered to be an effective treatment approach in
hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients during and after treatment with regard to the
above mentioned side-effects. Also, prehabilitative exercise in colon and lung cancer
patients was shown as feasible and effective. However, no experience exists with regard to
prehabilitation exercise in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Hematological cancer (e.g. Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia,
Multiple Myeloma, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, etc.)

- Hematological cancer in remission

- Females and males ≥18 years of age

- Fluent in written and spoken English

- Must be able to provide and understand informed consent

- Must have an ECOG score of ≤ 2

- Scheduled for an inpatient autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant at Penn State
Cancer Institute

- ≥ 3 weeks until scheduled transplant

- Primary attending physician approval

Exclusion Criteria:

- Hematological cancer not in remission

- Evidence in the medical record of an absolute contraindication (e.g. Heart
insufficiency > NYHA III or uncertain arrhythmia; uncontrolled hypertension; reduced
standing or walking ability) for exercise

- Any other comorbidities or musculoskeletal complications that preclude participation
in the exercise programs as deemed by the exercise interventionist

- Uncontrolled hypertension

- Receiving non-transplant related chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy

- Not fluent in written and spoken English

- Active infections, hemorrhages, and cytopenias that could place transplant patients at
risk for further adverse events, deemed by the exercise interventionist, physician
and/or nurse