Objectives: The residual treatment outcomes of cancer therapy can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of women after cancer. While many of these health concerns are amenable to health promoting activities and weight reduction, cancer survivors do not necessarily adopt these practices. This study tested whether an e-enabled lifestyle intervention promoted health-related quality of life in women previously treated for breast, gynaecological, and blood cancers.

Study design: The Women's Wellness after Cancer Program (WWACP) is 12-week multi-modal health behaviour intervention that recruits women within 24 months of completing cancer therapy. Women (N = 351) were randomly allocated to intervention or usual care groups, with data collected at baseline, 12-weeks (at completion of the intervention) and 24-weeks (to determine whether changes were sustained). To decrease the risk of bias, both per-protocol and intent-to-treat analyses were performed on the primary outcome of health-related quality of life (Short Form Health Survey using a forward method of imputation data.

Results: The average age of participants was 53 years (SD = 9). Most were married (77%) and 58% reported holding a university degree. Linear mixed effect models examined within- and between- group differences over the course of (and beyond) the intervention period. Notably, women in the intervention group reported increased vitality at 12-weeks (p = 0.04) and better general health and mental health (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01 respectively) at 24-weeks. Increments were also seen in physical and social functioning at 12- and 24- weeks though no intervention effect was detected.

Conclusions: Over the 24-week study period, women in the intervention group reported improvements in several quality of life domains. This period after cancer treatment could represent a key ‘teachable’ stage in the cancer continuum, wherein programs that promote a healthy lifestyle could contribute to positive and sustained changes in post-treatment quality of life.