Cancer patients suffer adverse effects from various treatments, such as fatigue, which often continue long after their treatment. In different randomized trials, we are studying the effects of an exercise program on fatigue, cognitive complaints and quality of life of breast cancer and esophageal cancer patients.

The patients are randomized into the exercise group or the control group. Prior to and after the program, both the intervention and the control group fill in questionnaires, their physical fitness is measured, cognitive tests are performed, an MRI is done, and a blood sample is taken.

During your internship, you will help perform the measurements in UMC Utrecht. It is also possible that you will, under supervision, explain the program to the physical therapists who will supervise the exercise program and that you visit them during the program.A scientific question related to cancer and exercise will be linked to the internship. The exact subject is yet to be determined.

(Similar study recently performed in UMC Utrecht: Travier N, Velthuis MJ, Steins Bisschop CN, van den Buijs B, Monninkhof EM, Backx F, Los M, Erdkamp F, Bloemendal HJ, Rodenhuis C, de Roos MA, Verhaar M, ten Bokkel Huinink D, van der Wall E, Peeters PH, May AM. Effects of an 18-week exercise programme started early during breast cancer treatment: a randomised controlled trial. BMC Med. 2015 Jun 8;13:121.)