The effects of exercise on pain, fatigue, insomnia, and health perceptions in patients with operable advanced stage rectal cancer prior to surgery: a pilot trial

Background: Promoting quality of life (QoL) is a key priority in cancer care. We investigated the hypothesis that, in comparison to usual care, exercise post-neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy/prior to surgical resection will reduce pain, fatigue, and insomnia, and will improve physical and mental health perceptions in patients with locally advanced stage rectal cancer. Methods: In this non-randomized controlled pilot trial, patients in the supervised exercise group (EG; Mage = 64 years; 64% male) and in the control group (CG; Mage = 72 years; 69% male) completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer core Quality of Life questionnaire and the RAND 36-Item Health Survey three times: pre-neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (Time 1; nEC = 24; nCG = 11), post-neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy/pre-exercise intervention (Time 2; nEC = 23; nCG = 10), and post-exercise intervention (Time 3; nEC = 22; nCG = 10). The 6-week exercise intervention was delivered in hospital and comprised of interval aerobic training. Patients trained in pairs three times per week for 30 to 40 minutes. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney tests and by Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank tests. Results: No significant between-group differences in change were found for any of the outcomes. In both groups, fatigue levels decreased and physical health perceptions increased from pre- to post-exercise intervention. Pain levels also decreased from pre- to post-exercise intervention, albeit not significantly. Conclusions: The findings from this study can be used to guide a more definitive trial as they provide preliminary evidence regarding the potential effects of pre-operative exercise on self-reported pain, fatigue, insomnia, and health perceptions in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Trial registration: This study has been registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01325909; March 29, 2011)

Jack Shadbolt : Paintings from Concurrent Exhibitions

Noting the emergence of a surrealist element in paintings executed from 1989 to 1990, Shadbolt describes how his approach to work has evolved over time. Biographical text

Jack Shadbolt : Recent Paintings

In an excerpt from his journal, Shadbolt reflects on the integration of landscape and abstract painting

Ken Wallace, 1980

According to Shadbolt, Wallace's paintings' emerge from a dialogue between improvised and deliberate compositional elements. Biographical notes

Max Maynard

Outlining Maynard's early life in the artistic community of Victoria in the 1930s, Shadbolt describes the artist's aesthetic ideas and work. Biographical notes

Irene Whittome : Parcours dessiné, Hommage à Jack Shadbolt = Irene Whittome : Drawings, 1963-1988, A Tribute to Jack Shadbolt

Lacroix documents Whittome's studies at the Vancouver School of Art (1959-1963) and proposes several interpretive themes of the artist's drawings. Includes a letter from Shadbolt, Whittome's former teacher. Biographical notes. Circa 50 bibl. ref

Jack Shadbolt and the Coastal Indian Image

In a study of Shadbolt's appropriation of West Coast Indian imagery, Malpin contrasts artifact with art object and develops the submerged political content in the 1985-86 paintings. Includes excerpts from Shadbolt's diary. 32 bibl. ref

Jack Shadbolt : Act of Painting

Referring to gesture, experimentation, dada and surrealism, Watson discusses how Shadbolt resolves the conflict between representing nature and abstraction by using a symbolic vocabulary. Woodcock describes Shadbolt's shamanism as a link between modern art and primitive art. The artist outlines the sources and inspirations for his paintings. Biographical notes. 36 bibl. ref

Eric Freifeld, 1919-1984 : A Tribute

In interview, Freifeld describes his career as an artist and as a teacher. Shadbolt reminisces about his friendship with Freifeld. Biographical notes