Implementation of a program based on adapted physical activity and recommendations for second cancers prevention for adolescents and young adults with cancer

Around 700 adolescents and young adults aged from 15 to 25 years old (AYAs) are diagnosed each year with cancer in the French Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. While long-term survival is about 80%, they are six times more likely to develop a second primary cancer (SPC) compared to their peers. This risk is multifactorial and depends on the type of first cancer, the treatment received and the prevalence of risk factors (smoking, overweight, sedentary lifestyle, environmental exposures…). This project aims to implement a clinical program based on adapted physical activity and cancer prevention recommendations for AYAs with cancer. Patients attended adapted physical activity sessions during the active treatment period (4–6 months). They were given questionnaires about physical activity (IPAQ) and quality of life (QLQ-C30) at baseline (T1) and at the end of treatment (T2). They participated to individual information meetings on SPC risk prevention (T3), and responded to a final QoL questionnaire by phone 1 year after T1 (T4). So far, 63 AYAs (39 boys, 24 girls; median age=19 [15–25]) have been included and completed T1 and T2. On average, they participated in 4 supervised sessions at the hospital and 16 unsupervised sessions at home during 3.5 months [2–6]. Preliminary results indicate an increase in the level of physical activity between T1 360 MET-min/week [0–2373] and T2 1059 MET-min/week [0–9690] and an increase in the six-minute walk test from T1 391m [205–714] to T2 464m [305–690]. Sedentary time seems to decrease on average from 53.3h/week [10–100] at T1 to 37.5h/week [7–73] at T2. Currently, 37 AYAs have completed the T3 assessment and were highly satisfied with the program. Perspectives This study responds to AYAs’ needs for support and information regarding physical activity and SPC prevention. To improve the quality of the program and its implementation, a gym room will be built at the hospital, and a therapeutic education program dedicated to AYAs will be developed.