Exercise Plus Epoetin Alfa in Treating Cancer Patients Who Have Anemia-Related Fatigue

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of nonmyeloid malignancy with cancer related fatigue Anemia (hemoglobin less than 10 g/dL) No clinical or radiographic evidence of lytic bone metastases PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: Greater than 4 months Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Other: No dementia or evidence of mental incompetence No physical handicap precluding aerobic or resistance exercise No clinical abnormality that would render exercise a risk HIV negative No contraindications to epoetin alfa Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 8 weeks since prior epoetin alfa Chemotherapy: Concurrent chemotherapy allowed Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Concurrent radiotherapy allowed Surgery: Not specified Other: Concurrent anticancer therapy allowed At least 1 month since prior strength training of greater than 3 hours a week