Physical Rehabilitation Among Patients Undergoing Radical Cystectomy Due to Urinary Bladder Cancer

The most common treatment for solid cancer tumours is surgery, often in combination with chemo- and/or radiotherapy. To minimise the postoperative complications is important in today's health care. Early mobilisation at the ward and physical activity at home after discharge, have been shown to be important parts to reduce complications. Common complications after abdominal surgery are postoperative pulmonary complications and venous thrombosis. One of the conditions that suffers the most from different kinds of postoperative complications is radical cystectomy due to urinary bladder cancer. Complications after radical cystectomy could be direct related to the patients' high age and also high degree of comorbidity. There is today strong evidence that physical activity has a positive impact on health, survival and quality of life. Patients who have been treated for urinary bladder cancer are not sufficiently physical active and suffer from readmissions to hospital due to complications. Therefore, there is a need for developing and testing a physical rehabilitation programme to support patients who have a radical cystectomy, in the early postoperative period. The CanMoRe study is a randomized controlled trial with a single-blinded design evaluating an exercise intervention in Primary Health Care as part of the CanMoRe programme. In addition, a qualitative study (interviews) on patient's experience of the programme will be conducted as well as data gathered on factors that might influence the implementation of the programme. Then CanMoRe programme consists of preoperative information, the Activity Board used for enhanced mobilization during hospital stay, a 12-week, (1 h, 2 times/week) standardized and individually adapted exercise intervention in Primary Health Care and behavioral support for daily physical activity. The CanMoRe programme is evaluated in two steps, i.e. the in-hospital intervention using the Activity Board (published) and the exercise intervention in Primary Health Care reported herein.