Can a steroid and exercise beat cancer fatigue?

NCT ID NCT03583255

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This study tests whether adding the steroid dexamethasone to a physical activity program helps reduce severe fatigue in people with advanced cancer. About 99 participants will take the drug or a placebo while doing strength and walking exercises. The goal is to see if the combination is feasible and improves fatigue more than exercise alone.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Dexamethasone (a steroid that reduces inflammation)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could offer a new way to ease severe fatigue in people with advanced cancer, improving their daily quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is a mid-stage trial with only 99 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Dexamethasone has side effects like increased appetite, mood changes, and risk of infection.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • M D Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

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