Grant: Project Grant - Priority Announcement: Patient-Oriented Research

The Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) effectiveness-implementation study is being conducted to explore the delivery of cancer-specific community-based exercise across Alberta urban sites of Calgary, Edmonton, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer. ACE is a 12-week community-based exercise program, co-designed by cancer survivors, for individuals undergoing cancer treatment or recovering from cancer. Enrolment in ACE is close to double the originally projected numbers, with over 2100 cancer survivors enrolling in the last 4 years. Data support program acceptance with high 12-week completion rates (91%), one-year completion rates (79%), program satisfaction (92%), and significant benefits in physical fitness, cancer symptoms and quality of life. We have demonstrated that ACE can: (1) be delivered successfully in communities across Alberta, and 2) satisfy the needs of survivors and healthcare professionals. Both the overwhelming interest in ACE among survivors and the success of community fitness facilities in delivering programming, support the successful implementation of this community-based program. The purpose of this application is to secure funding to: (1) Collect and analyze five-year follow-up data on ACE participants for physical activity behaviour, fitness, patient-reported outcomes, healthcare utilization, as well as cancer outcomes; and (2) To determine the factors necessary to support ACE program delivery in the community setting over the longer term. No other exercise study involving cancer survivors has the quantity and quality of data on both effectiveness and implementation that is currently available in ACE. Thus, ACE is a data rich resource that will allow us to answer a wide range of questions and better understand the value of exercise in cancer survivorship.