| Sumario: | Simple Summary: Exercise is an effective intervention that can optimize the health and wellbeing of individuals with cancer and possibly reduce rates of cancer recurrence and secondary cancers. This paper reports the baseline characteristics of participants taking part in a cancer-specific community-based exercise effectiveness–implementation study called Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE). The exercise program was offered twice weekly for a 12-week period, and was tailored to the individual's fitness level, and personal fitness or lifestyle goals. A total of 2570 individuals were screened and had measurements taken at the start of the study to evaluate exercise safety, physical activity and fitness levels, and cancer-related symptoms. Participants were then referred to a suitable community exercise program. Due to its large sample size, ACE is a resource that will help to inform the implementation of exercise programs in real-world settings for diverse groups of individuals with cancer. Background: Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) is a hybrid effectiveness–implementation study evaluating a cancer-specific community-based exercise program across urban sites in Alberta, Canada. The purpose of this paper is to describe the baseline characteristics of participants. Methods: Adults with any type and stage of cancer, who were undergoing cancer treatment or up to three years post treatment completion, were eligible. ACE was delivered in person at 18 sites across 7 cities in Alberta, with video conferencing introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants took part in 60 min of mild-to-moderate intensity exercise twice weekly for a 12-week period and were encouraged to increase overall physical activity. Results: From January 2017 to February 2023, 2570 individuals enrolled. Participants were a mean age of 57.8 years, 71.3% were female, 45.4% had breast cancer, and 49.4% were undergoing cancer treatment. At baseline, only 22.4% of participants self-reported meeting recommended physical activity levels, 66.0% were overweight/obese, and 71.4% reported one or more comorbidities. Most participants were below normative levels for the six-minute walk and 30 s sit-to-stand tests, and 75.9% reported fatigue. Conclusion: Participants were largely inactive, unfit, and symptomatic. ACE attracted more females and individuals with breast cancer but was otherwise representative of the Alberta cancer population.
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