Virtual diet and exercise program helps people with lymphoma ^{CEFR B2}

The LIFE-L trial evaluated a virtual lifestyle program for people with lymphoma who were receiving standard six-cycle combination chemotherapy. The findings were presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in Orlando by Melissa Lopez of the CRANE Lab at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The study team, led by Tracy Crane and Craig Moskowitz, enrolled 72 participants and offered 44 immediate access to individualized weekly online coaching with a registered dietitian and an exercise physiologist; 28 participants served as a waitlist control group.

First the team assessed feasibility and engagement. Eighty-one percent of eligible patients enrolled, and attendance rates were high: 86% for diet sessions and 81% for exercise sessions. During chemotherapy, intervention participants reported lower symptom rates than the waitlist group: anxiety 17% versus 34%, depression 46% versus 67%, pain 22% versus 39%, fatigue 46% versus 67%, and constipation 17% versus 25%. They also demonstrated greater grip strength and better results on physical performance tests.

The researchers will continue to evaluate whether reducing treatment burden leads to better adherence to therapy, noting that receiving less than 85% of prescribed chemotherapy can affect survival. Lopez said she hopes the LIFE-L findings will encourage more clinicians to refer patients to lifestyle medicine programs and raise awareness of diet and exercise recommendations during treatment.