Tests a group exercise program for adults living with cancer across Canada
Tests a cancer-focused group exercise program, online or in person, in adults with cancer.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of Calgary
- Where
- Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, CanadaSee the 5 sites
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Sustainable Implementation of the EXCEL Exercise Oncology Program Across Canada
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 740 people, planned
- Started
- 11 Mar 2025
- Expected to end
- 30 Nov 2026
- Type of study
- Interventional
- Treatments tested
- Group Exercise Classes
- Record updated
- 7 October 2025
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who have or had cancer and can do at least light exercise. They would join an 8 to 12-week exercise program, online or in person.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Any cancer diagnosis, past or present. They must be before treatment, in active treatment, or finished treatment within the past 3 years.
- Earlier treatment
- If treatment ended more than 3 years ago, they need a referral from their healthcare team. It must say they have side effects that exercise could help.
Main reasons for not taking part
- No cancer diagnosis
- Under 18 years old
- Cannot do even mild exercise
- Cannot read or write in English
- For online programs: no internet or computer access
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 11 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- have or had a diagnosis of cancer
- be 18 years or older
- be able to participate in low-intensity levels of activity, at minimum
- be pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), have received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, have a referral from their healthcare team indicating they have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise
- be able to provide informed written consent in English or French
Who cannot take part
- is not pretreatment, or receiving active cancer treatment (i.e., surgery, systemic therapy and radiation therapy), has not received cancer treatment within the past 3 years, or if beyond 3 years since treatment completion, doesn't have side effects from cancer treatment or the cancer itself, that could be improved or managed with exercise
- does not or did not have a cancer diagnosis
- is under the age of 18
- is unable to participate in mild exercise, at minimum
- unable to read/write in English
- for online programs, does not have internet or computer access
Where in Canada
- University Of CalgaryCalgary, CanadaContact: Julianna DregerTaking people
- Nova Scotia Health AuthorityHalifax, CanadaContact: Tom ChristensenTaking people
- Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de MontréalMontreal, CanadaContact: Alexia PichéTaking people
- University of TorontoToronto, CanadaContact: Daniel SibleyTaking people
- University of British ColumbiaVancouver, CanadaContact: Carole YinTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
EXCEL will provide online and, where feasible, in-person exercise programs to individuals living with and beyond cancer (ILWBC). Research has shown that targeted programs that include tailored exercise prescriptions are more successful in helping individuals with chronic disease to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routines. While ILWBC are advised by healthcare professionals (HCPs) to engage in exercise, there is a lack of cancer-specific exercise programs and cancer-trained exercise specialists in Canada, outside of the research setting. Considering the negative impact cancer and its treatments have on fitness and physical activity levels, community-based efforts towards improving access, uptake and maintenance of exercise programming are needed.
Read full original descriptionShow less
This study will evaluate the benefits of a community-based or online EXCEL exercise program for people living with and beyond cancer across Canada, using a streamlined intake process compared to the original EXCEL Study (HREBA.CC-20-0098, NCT04478851). This 8 to 12-week program (intervention) will be delivered in-person or over virtual platform. It includes twice weekly supervised exercise classes.
The group in the trial
- InterventionTreatment being tested
All participants will be involved in group exercise classes, twice a week for 8-12 weeks.
Treatment: Group Exercise Classes
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Sustainable Implementation of the EXCEL Exercise Oncology Program Across Canada
- Plain-language title
- Tests a group exercise program for adults living with cancer across CanadaGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 7 October 2025