Pre- and Post-Operative Exercise Program in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers

The primary goal of this multi-centre randomised controlled trial is to investigate the effects of peri-operative exercise training programmes on physical fitness, defined as the distance covered in metres and centimetres during a 6 minute walk test, in patients undergoing a major curative upper-GI resection for either oesophageal or gastric cancer. To complete the Six Minute Walk Test, no warm up is permitted and participants rest in a seated position for 10 minutes prior to the test beginning. Participants walk up and down a 20m course marked by cones for 6 minutes under instruction to cover as much ground as possible. The number of laps completed is recorded. A standard set of instructions as well as encouragement is used. After 6 minutes, the participant stops and the distance covered in the final partial lap as measured and total distance covered is calculated. Change from baseline to post treatment difference between groups.

Strength will be measured using two tests. the Sit to Stand Test . Participants will sit on a chair (height 43-45 cm) with arms crossed on their, and legs flat on the floor, parallel to each other, and approximately shoulder width apart. Participants will stand up and sit down 10 times as quickly as possible. Participants must not bounce off the chair when moving from a seated position to standing position. They must fully extend their legs on each stand. The time taken to perform 10 repetitions will be timed using a stopwatch. Participants will perform two trials and the best trial will be recorded as their score. Change from baseline to post treatment difference between groups.

Strength will be measured using a hand dynamometer. The test will be conducted in a standing position with the upper arm tight against the participant's trunk and the forearm at a right angle to the upper arm. If this is not possible the participant may sit in an upright chair or use their free hand to rest the dynamometer on a table to support the arm. The gripping handle will be set to a comfortable width to ensure the patient can rest the middle piece of the fourfingers on the handle. The participant will be instructed to squeeze the handle with maximum force for a few seconds. The value on the scale will be recorded. The participant will complete two trials on each hand. The highest score will be accepted.Change from baseline to post treatment difference between groups.

Determined by body mass index (BMI). BMI will be calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Height will be measured using a wall stadiometer to the nearest .1cm. Weight will be measured using an electronic scales to the nearest .1kg.Change from baseline to post treatment difference between groups.

This will be measured using two assessments: 3-day ActivPAL3 triaxial accelerometer. Participants will be instructed to wear the device on the midpoint of the anterior aspect of the right thigh and attach using a film adhesive frame dressing. They will continue to wear this for three days continuously. They cannot wear the ActivPAL3 triaxial accelerometer during water activity periods. Change from baseline to post treatment difference between groups.

EQ-5D (Euro qual health questionnaire consists of 5 themes graded 1-5 and an overall score. The questionnaire is then converted to an index value using the Crosswalk value sets developed for the EQ-5D Health Questionnaire.

There is a descriptive system comprises the following 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, extreme problems. The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions.

The EQ VAS records the respondent's self-rated health on a 20 cm vertical, visual analogue scale with endpoints labeled 'the best health you can imagine' and 'the worst health you can imagine.

Optimism as an outcome is measured using the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R: Scheier, Carver, & Bridges, 1994) and consists of ten items assessing generalised expectancies for positive versus negative outcomes. This will be administered at baseline and pre-surgery only. The scale uses 10 questions on a 1-10. There are 4 filler questions. High scores indicate optimism.

Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Esophageal (FACT-E) questionnaire. This is an HRQOL instrument validated in patients with esophageal cancer. It is composed of a general component (FACT-G) and an esophageal cancer subscale (ECS). Patients will score a series of questions (0 = not at all; 4 = very much) in five sections (physical well-being; social/family well-being; emotional well-being; functional well-being; additional concerns) for the past 7 days. Higher scores will suggest better quality of life.

Semi-structured interviews will explore patients' perceptions of the surgical pathway. This will be analysed from interview transcripts through qualitative analysis using thematic content analysis.

Self reported measure of Self-efficacy (General Self Efficacy Scale). 10 item questionnaire.Scored 1-4. 1 being "not at all true", 4 being "Exactly True". The total score is calculated by finding the sum of the all items. For the GSE, the total score ranges between 10 and 40, with a higher score indicating more self-efficacy.

Mastery (Pearlin Mastery Scale). This consists of seven items designed to assess one aspect of psychological coping resources (Mastery). Example items include, "Sometimes I feel that I am being pushed here and there in life" (reverse-scored) and "What happens to me in the future mostly depends on me." Response options range from 1, strongly disagree, to 7, strongly agree. Score range from 7-28. Higher scores indicate greater mastery.

The fear of surgery questionnaire is a valid and reliable eight-item index of surgical fear consisting of two subscales: fear of the short-term consequences of surgery and fear of the long-term consequences. Scoring range 0-100 with 0 being not afraid at all and 100 indicating very afraid.

Post-operative Morbidity Outcomes: Assessed using the Post-operative Morbidity Score (POMS) at day 15. The POMS is an 18-item tool that addresses morbidity relevant to the post-surgical patient. The subcategories are Pulmonary, Infectious, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, Neurological, Hematological, Wound and Pain. It is implemented as the morbidity either being present or absent.

Post-operative Morbidity Outcomes: Assessed using the Post-operative Morbidity Score (POMS) at day 15. The POMS is an 18-item tool that addresses morbidity relevant to the post-surgical patient. The subcategories are Pulmonary, Infectious, Renal, Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, Neurological, Hematological, Wound and Pain. It is implemented as the morbidity either being present or absent.

The Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, this consists of 5 grades that rank a post operative complication. grade one being any deviation form the usual post operative course and grade 5 being death.

The Clavien-Dindo classification of surgical complications, this consists of 5 grades that rank a post operative complication. grade one being any deviation form the usual post operative course and grade 5 being death.

The Glasgow Prognostic Score Provides cancer prognosis based on serum biomarkers CRP and Albumin. It is calculated as follows: a score of 0 for normal C reactive protein and albumin levels, score 1 for either an abnormal C reactive protein or abnormal albumin level and score 2 for both abnormal C reactive protein and abnormal albumin levels.

Foodbook24 is a Web-based, dietary tool consisting of a 24- hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire alongside supplementary questionnaires.

C-Reactive Protein will be assessed at each time point. A level greater that 15mmol/L

White Cell Differential will be assessed at each time point. Normal range 3.5-10.5 x 109/L