Feasibility Testing of a Dyadic Exercise Program for Patients Undergoing Thoracic Radiotherapy and Their Family Caregivers

Primary Objectives:

• Examine the feasibility and acceptability of an exercise program
• Examine an initial sign for intervention efficacy by examining pre/post-test scores for patients' objective physical function and patient and caregiver subjective physical and mental quality of life.

Inclusion criteria

• Be diagnosed with a non-small cell lung cancer or esophageal cancer and going to receive at least 24 fractions thoracic RT
• Have an ECOG performance status of ≤2
• Have a family caregiver (e.g., spouse, sibling, adult child) willing and able (self-identified) to participate in the exercise program

Both patient and caregiver must meet all the following criteria:

• Be ≥18 years old
• Be able to read and speak English
• Be able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• A patient who meets the following criteria will be excluded from participating in this study:
• Cognitive deficits noted in the medical records and/or cognitive deficits that would impede the completion of self-report instruments as deemed by the patient's attending radiation oncologist.
• Experiences contraindications to exercise as determined by the clinical team
• Regularly (self-defined) participates in an exercise program in the year prior to diagnosis

A patient and caregiver who is pregnant (medical notes and/or self-identified, respectively) will be excluded.