Innovative Diet and Exercise Program Reduces Side Effects of Lymphoma Treatment and Improves Quality of Life
Researchers introduce a virtual program combining diet and exercise to support lymphoma patients, reduce side effects, and improve treatment adherence.
A research team at Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami has developed an innovative virtual program focusing on nutrition and exercise, offering an effective strategy to minimize side effects of lymphoma treatment and enhance patients’ chemotherapy adherence.
Study Details
Dr. Melissa Lopez highlighted that data on lifestyle impact during treatment is limited: "Most previous studies focused on prevention or post-treatment survival."
The trial involved 72 chemotherapy patients undergoing six treatment cycles. Forty-four patients received immediate access to a virtual program with diet and exercise plans designed to maintain fitness and reduce side effects, while 28 patients were placed on a waitlist as a control group.
The program featured weekly online sessions with a certified dietitian and exercise physiologist, tailored to each patient’s needs.
Program Results
Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvements:
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Anxiety reduced from 34% to 17%
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Depression reduced from 67% to 46%
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Pain reduced from 39% to 22%
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Fatigue reduced from 67% to 46%
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Constipation reduced from 25% to 17%
They also demonstrated stronger grip strength and superior physical performance compared to the control group.
Dr. Lopez emphasized: "Receiving less than 85% of prescribed chemotherapy affects survival chances. Our goal is to keep patients above 85% dosage, which requires good health to endure treatment."
The LIFE-L program aims to encourage physicians to refer patients to lifestyle medicine programs and highlight the importance of diet and exercise during treatment, addressing gaps in awareness among some doctors.
Regular health screening is one of the most important steps to maintain good health and detect diseases early. The essential medical checkups for every age help in preventing complications and ensuring a healthier life.
Many people, after doing medical tests, receive their results and immediately start looking at numbers and unfamiliar terms like (High – Low – Normal) without fully understanding what they actually mean.
When dealing with medical services, many people come across different titles for doctors such as “Specialist” and “Consultant”, which can sometimes create confusion about what each title actually means and how they differ from each other.
Choosing the right time to visit a doctor is not a random decision. It can directly affect how quickly a condition is diagnosed and how effective the treatment will be. Many people delay visiting a doctor or go at the wrong time, which may lead to worsening symptoms or delayed care.
