Objective: The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the effects of a walking program on fatigue, physical functioning and quality of life (QOL) in post-operative patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) and periampullary cancers (bile duct, ampulla, duodenum) who  have had surgery alone or are undergoing adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy (CT) and/or radiation therapy (RT).

Site(s) and/or Type:  Pancreas

Stage:     

Principal Investigator:  Yeo, Theresa

Patient Eligibility

• Confirmed pathologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of pancreas or periampullary cancers, Stage I, II, or III
• Treatment included surgery alone, or adjuvant treatment with CT and/or RT
• Men and women ≥ 18 years of age
• Residents of the USA
• Surgery performed at TJUH, Philadelphia, PA
• CT or RT performed at TJUH, Jefferson system affiliate hospital, or elsewhere
• Patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy with CT or RT, or both, who subsequently are re-staged and eligible for surgery

Protocol Treatment
A baseline assessment will be conducted on all participants in either the hospital or in the clinic and will consist of a pre-determined, pre-measured observed walk.  The PI or co-investigator will accompany the participant during the baseline walk and will record the distance (in feet) walked and the time (in minutes or seconds) walked.  Emergency equipment is available in the clinic if required.  A seat is available in the hallway if the participant needs to rest.  Subjects in the intervention group will participate in a graduated walking program, which will begin following hospital discharge.  Participants in both groups will complete the Facit Fatigue Scale (Yellen, Cella, Webster, Blendowski, Kaplan, 1997 ) and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS-SF-36) (Ware & Sherbourne,1992) questionnaire after surgery but prior to initiation of CT or RT and again at 6 months after hospital discharge or at the completion of adjuvant therapy.