Zechariah Cummings, “Focus on POWER: Mixed Methods Insights for the Preservation of Physical Function in Soft Tissue Sarcoma patients.”
Mentor: Whitney Morelli, MCW (partnership with UWM)
Oral Presentation: 9:00am Union E280
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare, malignant tumors found in the trunk and extremities of the body. They are treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Despite treatment advances, patients experience side effects like functional decline, fatigue, and reduced quality of life. Prehabilitation (preoperative exercise and diet interventions) improves postoperative outcomes in other cancers, but remains understudied in STS. This study assessed STS patients’ needs and preferences for a lifestyle prehabilitation program. STS patients completed an online questionnaire including demographics, cancer and treatment characteristics, and current physical/dietary activity. Participants also completed a semi-structured interview addressing their treatment experiences, symptoms, lifestyle behaviors, feedback on prehabilitation, and nutritional programming. Data from the interviews were analyzed by 5 research team members using an inductive approach through thematic text analysis. Participants (N = 20) were 50% female, ages 22 to 77 years. Patients who received chemotherapy before surgery (83%) felt fatigue and loss of appetite. Patients who received radiation (63%) felt fatigue and loss of physical function. Five themes emerged from the interviews for patients’ needs and preferences: (1) Prehabilitation lifestyle resources allow ownership over recovery; (2) Consistent reinforcement and feedback; (3) Tracking external factors that influence lifestyle habits; (4) Social support from other STS survivors; and (5) Remote access to support and resources. Participants emphasized the need for prehabilitation resources like physical activity and nutrition recommendations before surgery, as early access would empower them to take ownership of their recovery. They expressed interest in regular reinforcement and using behavioral tools. Participants suggested future lifestyle interventions should consider factors like mental health, symptoms, side effects, and family stressors when designing programs. Lastly, support from other STS survivors was seen as valuable for accountability and encouragement. Overall, participants viewed a prehabilitation program positively to improve postoperative outcomes and quality of life.