Prehabilitation Protocol for Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Optimizing Cancer Support Services Usage in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer During the Prehabilitation Period
University of Miami
60 participants
Apr 30, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The purpose of this research is to help researchers understand the barriers, supports, and preferences for prehabilitation. Prehabilitation in this study means head and neck cancer patients will receive nutritional counseling sessions and attend exercise programs before and during radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy treatment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- Age 18 to 80 years old
- Patients with a diagnosis of non-metastatic squamous cell carcinoma originating in the head and neck (oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx).
- Patients with a plan for curative radiation therapy (RT) / chemoradiation therapy (CRT) at SCCC\* - \*Patients who underwent surgery for the HNC are still eligible.
- Clearance for exercise by the medical team.
- Patients who do not have their first treatment scheduled within 3 weeks at the time of recruitment.
- An English or Spanish speaker.
Exclusion Criteria8
- A patient with a metastatic cancer.
- A patient who cannot complete the baseline assessment and/or start prehabilitation by the initiation of RT/CRT.
- Any contraindication for diet change or exercising as determined by a physician.
- Engaging in \>150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on average per week for the prior month.
- A patient who is not an English or Spanish speaker.
- History of dementia or major psychiatric disease which would interfere with study.
- History of recent (≤1 yr) stroke, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) equal to or higher than 2.
Interventions
Participants will be referred by their healthcare provider to an oncology nutritional counseling and exercise program administered standard of care by the Cancer Support Service at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participants will be scheduled to the predetermined frequency and length of visits with oncology dietitians and exercise physiologists per the prehabilitation prescription protocol developed during the pre-implementation period.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT07318220