Walking and Sitting Difficulties After Rectal Cancer Surgery (NCT07035600) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Walking and Sitting Difficulties After Rectal Cancer Surgery
Sweden300 participantsStarted 2025-09-15
Plain-language summary
Earlier studies have shown that many patients (up to 30%) who have had a major surgery for rectal cancer, called a rectum amputation (where the entire rectum and anus are removed and the person gets a permanent stoma), still have trouble sitting and walking three years after the surgery. These problems are then seen as long-term or chronic.
WASA is a randomized multicenter international study that will test a way to reduce these problems. It will start in fall 2025 and go on for 3.5 years. About 300 patients will take part.
The patients will be randomly divided into two groups. One group will get guided online training twice a week, specially made for their needs. The other group will get information about the World Health Organization's (WHO) general advice on physical activity.
The idea is that special training during the first year after surgery will reduce problems with walking and sitting. If the hypothesis can be confirmed, it could lead to an easy and low-cost way to help many rectal cancer patients feel and function better.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients with rectal cancer to be treated with/without neoadjuvant (chemo)radiation and abdominoperineal excision with or without mesh (APE/ELAPE) Informed consent Able to read and understand Swedish or Danish
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with rectal cancer to be operated by extended abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) requiring musculocutaneous or muscular flaps to be operated by Hartmann's procedure to be operated by anterior resection (low or high) participation in other randomized trials in conflict with the protocol and endpoints of the WASA trial Not understanding Swedish or Danish Patients reporting habit of physical activity exceeding the WHO-recommendations (150 min + two strength sessions) at baseline.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Can a specific physical online training program decrease sitting and walking difficulties 12 months after abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer compared with standard care (self-administered aerobic training according to WHO recommendations only)?