- Online lifestyle coaching during chemotherapy proved popular and practical for people with lymphoma
- Participants reported less fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression compared with a control group
- Grip strength and physical performance improved in those who joined the virtual sessions
Cancer treatment is tough. Chemotherapy for lymphoma often brings fatigue, nausea, pain and mood changes that can be so severe that people delay or even stop treatment.
A new study from the University of Miami suggests that a virtual diet and exercise programme can ease these burdens and might help patients stay on course.
The early findings come from the LIFE L trial and were presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting.
Much of the previous research on diet and physical activity in cancer has focused on either prevention or survivorship after treatment has finished.
There has been far less work on whether tailored lifestyle support during chemotherapy can influence symptoms and outcomes.
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In the LIFE L study, seventy two people receiving standard six cycle chemotherapy regimens for lymphoma were recruited.
Forty four were given immediate access to a virtual programme and twenty eight were assigned to a waiting list control group.
The intervention combined weekly online sessions with a registered dietitian and an exercise physiologist.
Advice was individualised, recognising that some people would be stronger than others and that energy levels can fluctuate dramatically during chemotherapy.
High engagement despite gruelling treatment
One of the first questions the team needed to answer was simple.
Would people going through intensive treatment feel able to log into regular lifestyle sessions, or would it be an unrealistic burden.
The results are encouraging. About eight in ten eligible patients agreed to join the programme.
Among those enrolled, attendance was strong.
Diet sessions were attended 86 percent of the time and exercise sessions 81 percent of the time.
This suggests that when support is flexible and delivered at home, many people are willing to try lifestyle changes even while dealing with cancer treatment.
Symptom relief and physical gains
Participants in the virtual programme reported lower rates of several troubling symptoms compared with those on the waiting list.
Anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain and constipation were all less common or less severe in the intervention group.
Objective measures told a similar story. People in the programme showed greater grip strength and better performance on standard physical tests.
These differences matter, since strength and fitness can influence how well someone tolerates chemotherapy and how quickly they recover.
The study is ongoing, so it is too soon to say whether the intervention translates into fewer treatment interruptions or better long term survival. However, the early data suggest that lifestyle support during treatment is both feasible and beneficial.
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Although this work focuses on lymphoma, the principles apply widely.
Many people with diabetes also undergo demanding treatments, whether for cancer, heart disease or other serious conditions.
Side effects from medicines or procedures can easily derail lifestyle routines and lead to poorer control.
The LIFE L study shows that well designed virtual programmes can reach people during difficult periods and help them maintain healthier eating and activity patterns.
This aligns with the growing use of digital platforms to support people with diabetes in real time rather than only at clinic visits.
