Developing an mHealth Application to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy Symptom Management
Colon CancerRectal CancerThis research project addresses critical gaps in cancer symptom management through the creation of a mobile chemotherapy symptom management application. This application will assess for the presence and severity of common chemotherapy side-effects and provide personally tailored symptom-related video and narratives to enhance self-management of cancer and treatment-related symptoms. This study will examine patient acceptance and use of this mHealth application (called MyChemoCare) in a prospective trial of cancer patients (n=60) who are receiving chemotherapy for colorectal cancer at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Self-monitoring and Reminder Texts to Increase Physical Activity After Cancer II
Colorectal CancerColon Cancer1 moreThere is a critical need for physical activity interventions in colorectal cancer (CRC). The investigators have developed a digital health physical activity intervention, Smart Pace, which includes a wearable tracker (Fitbit) and text messaging and aims to have patients build up to 150 min/wk of moderate activity. In this study, the investigators propose to expand and improve Smart Pace, including: 1) enrolling patients during chemotherapy; 2) tailoring text messages to individual preferences and treatment timing; and 3) adding resources to support home-based exercise. The study is a 12-week pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the feasibility of this novel digital health physical activity intervention among 48 CRC patients on chemotherapy. The specific aims are to: 1) Determine the feasibility of the intervention via adherence and attrition, and determine the acceptability of the intervention via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews . 2) Estimate the effect of the intervention vs. usual care on physical activity, QOL, and symptoms at 12-weeks . And 3) Explore the impact of the intervention vs. usual care on fitness, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure at 12-weeks.
End-of-Life Care for African Americans
Colonic NeoplasmsBreast Neoplasms1 moreRacial differences in health care are documented across the health care continuum and persist in aging and end-of-life (EOL) care. African Americans (AA) and other underrepresented minorities often choose more aggressive therapies at the end of life and are less likely to utilize hospice care in the terminal stages of their illness. Potential reasons for these disparities include: lack of knowledge of and misperceptions about palliative and hospice care, spiritual beliefs, and mistrust in the health care system, among others. Despite the literature on disparities in end-of-life (EOL) care and reasons for underuse and the presence of national EOL care guidelines, attempts to address this problem have been limited and often not rigorously evaluated. The majority of interventions to promote EOL care were done in majority populations and focused predominantly on trying to change physician awareness of patient's pain, symptoms, and values or to change physician communication behavior. While these early studies made tremendous contributions to the study of EOL care and the needs of the terminally ill, the interventions associated with these studies did not reach their desired effectiveness. The investigators propose a different strategy that would focus specifically on previously identified barriers to utilization of advance directives, palliative care, and hospice care among African Americans - including physicians' difficulty and discomfort with prognostication, AA patients' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs towards hospice and palliative care, conflict between patients' spiritual beliefs and the general hospice and palliative medicine philosophy of care, and medical mistrust. The goal of this project is to improve methods of prognostication for physicians and increase awareness of EOL care options for AAs. To overcome the dual challenges of physicians' reluctance to discuss EOL care and patients' discomfort in engaging in such conversations, the investigators will use the electronic medical record (EMR) to automatically identify AA patients with life-limiting illness who are eligible for counseling about EOL care options. To change knowledge and attitudes toward EOL care options among AA patients, the investigators will design a culturally sensitive intervention that will combine multimedia materials and a culturally concordant lay health advisor who will deliver tailored education and counseling.
Ginseng in Decreasing Cancer-Related Fatigue After Treatment in Cancer Survivors
Cancer SurvivorStage I Breast Cancer AJCC v718 moreThis randomized pilot trial studies how well North American ginseng extract AFX-2 (ginseng) works in decreasing cancer-related fatigue after treatment in cancer survivors. Ginseng may decrease fatigue in people who were treated for cancer.
Health and Employment After Gastro Intestinal Surgery - HEAGIS1
Esophageal NeoplasmsStomach Neoplasm1 moreBy using the M.A.D.I.T. methodology and the Dialogics science, SALVO Project aims to develop operational guidelines to support oncological target patients in the resumption of their daily post-operative activities. The research will implement an instrument for the purpose of measuring the health need of participants who are admitted to the surgical ward. Therefore, targeted interventions will be implemented with participants, and efficacy will be evaluated in order to define treatment guidelines. The principal aim of this study is to create a validated and replicable intervention model for supporting patients who undergone surgery for esophagus and gastro intestinal cancer.
Home-based HIIT to Improve CRC Survivorship: Feasibility and Relationship With Novel Surrogate Biomarkers...
Colorectal CancerColorectal Neoplasms5 moreThis 12-week, exercise study will assess the feasibility of a home-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program among colorectal cancer survivors and explore the impact of home-based HIIT compared to a standard home-based moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise program on physical outcomes linked with survival from colorectal cancer and surrogate blood markers of colorectal cancer recurrence. HIIT is a type of aerobic exercise that includes short bursts (i.e. 1-4 minutes) of vigorous exercise followed by longer periods of moderate to lower intensity exercise (i.e. 1-10 minutes). Participants in this study will be randomly assigned into a personalized home based exercise program - either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise (MICE). This pilot study will provide us with preliminary evidence for a larger trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two different types of home-based exercise programs on physical outcomes linked with survival, quality of life, and surrogate blood markers of colorectal cancer recurrence.
Community-based Approaches to Treating Hypertension and Colon Cancer Prevention
HypertensionColon CancerBlack men constitute the demographic group with the greatest burden of premature death and disability from hypertension (HTN) in the United States. But while the disproportionately high rate of hypertension-related morbidity and mortality is well documented, the epidemic of colorectal cancer (CRC) among black men is comparatively under-appreciated. For example, CRC is a leading cause of cancer death in black men with a death rate 50% higher than in white men. Low rates of screening for CRC in this population contribute significantly to this problem. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) is to evaluate the effect of a lifestyle intervention delivered through telephone-based motivational interviewing (MINT) versus a patient navigation intervention on blood pressure reduction and CRC screening.
Perfusion Assessment in Laparoscopic Left Anterior Resection
Rectal CancerColon Cancer4 moreThe purpose of this study is to demonstrate that NIR fluorescence angiography using the PINPOINT Endoscopic Fluorescence Imaging System ("PINPOINT System" or "PINPOINT") can assess viability of colon tissue during laparoscopic left colectomy. This information will provide the surgeon with clinically relevant information in assessing whether or not the tissue has adequate blood supply in the lower section of the colon prior to a colectomy.
A Randomized Trial of Cancer Risk and Health Education in Relatives of Colorectal Cancer Patients...
Colon CancerColonic NeoplasmsHaving at least one first-degree relative (FDR) with colon cancer increases an individual's risk of developing the disease. Many relatives of cancer patients are ineligible for genetic testing and, therefore, do not receive information from a healthcare provider about the disease. Providing relatives of cancer patients with information about their risk of developing colon cancer, screening information, and other colon-related health information, may increase knowledge and screening compliance as has been shown in relatives of breast cancer patients. The primary aim of this study is to test the efficacy of two modes (in-person vs. telephone) of providing a risk counseling and health promotion intervention for relatives of cancer patients on measures of knowledge of colon cancer risk and health-related factors, comprehension of risk, understanding of screening recommendations and intent to adopt an appropriate screening regimen. Participants will be randomized into one of three study arms (in-person, telephone, control). An assessment pre- and post- intervention will be conducted. In addition, longer-term follow-ups will be carried out two months and one year following the intervention to examine the sustainability of the intervention effect.
Follow-up After Surgery for Colon Cancer. General Practice vs. Surgical-based Follow-up?
Colon CancerThe purpose of this study is to clarify cost effectiveness and quality of life issues among colon cancer patients followed up in a hospital setting or by their GP's.Statement of study hypothesis:Postoperative follow up of colon cancer patients (according to national guidelines) by general practitioners will not have any influence on patients' quality of life. There will not be observed any increase in serious clinical events and cost effectiveness will be improved.