Researchers at the University of Central Florida announced on April 14 that they are leading a six-month intervention study aimed at improving the quality of life for testicular cancer survivors. The project is funded by the Florida Department of Health Cancer Innovation Fund and is led by associate professors Michael Rovito and Keith Brazendale from UCF’s Department of Health Sciences.
The study addresses ongoing physical, emotional, and social challenges that many testicular cancer survivors face after completing treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, survival rates for testicular cancer are high, with about 10,000 men diagnosed each year and fewer than five percent dying from the disease. This high survival rate highlights the importance of supporting long-term well-being among survivors.
“Our focus is on finding ways to improve the quality of life for these survivors, and to improve their mental, emotional and social health,” Rovito said. He has researched testicular cancer and men’s health for nearly two decades.
The new program being tested is called Physical Activity and Connectivity for Testicular Cancer Survivors (PACT). Unlike previous survivorship programs that focused on high-intensity exercise, PACT emphasizes low-impact activities such as walking or taking stairs. Participants use Fitbit devices to track their progress in real time while receiving weekly goals and personalized guidance from researchers.
“We’re seeking an intervention they can do for the rest of their lives,” Brazendale said. “We want these healthy supports to become habit.” In addition to physical activity, participants join online peer-support sessions via Zoom led by a social worker and survivor advocate trained in trauma-informed care. Monthly sessions include breathwork, meditation, and discussions about concerns like fertility or fear of recurrence.
Rovito said: “The online support session provides coping strategies and tools for the participants to use during the day, when they can feel anxious or depressed or overwhelmed.” Outside meetings, researchers keep in touch through tailored motivational text messages sent directly to participants.
Brazendale added: “Our hope is that we are providing realistic physical activity changes that are sustainable when the monitoring ends. We want these survivors to have adopted habits and skills that result in them being healthier over the long-term.” The research team aims eventually to expand this approach into broader survivorship care across Florida.
