The importance of exercise, and referral to physiotherapists experienced in working with cancer patients, has been highlighted in a new position statement released by Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA).

COSA is recognising the importance of exercise to help counteract the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment. It then assigned its Exercise in Cancer group to oversee the development and implementation of a new initiative to embed exercise as part of a cancer patient’s standard of treatment.

National Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s (APA) Cancer, Palliative Care and Lymphoedema Group Tanya Lewis expressed belief in the position statement by saying, “Physiotherapists are expert exercise health professionals who have the clinical skills and expertise to provide tailored exercise programs for patients with a cancer diagnosis at all phases of their treatment.”

Meanwhile, APA National President Phil Calvert emphasized the initiative’s importance for cancer patients saying, “The majority of patients with cancer currently do not meet exercise recommendations despite many expressing a desire to be sufficiently active. They need advice and ongoing support to do this. Increasingly, cancer specialists are recognising that physiotherapists provide a highly beneficial exercise treatment program that ensures the patient is participating in physical activity appropriate to their condition.”

Prue Cormie, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and researcher with an interest in the application of exercise as medicine for the management of cancer commented on COSA’s position in Oncology News. People with cancer should be:

• Avoiding inactivity and be encouraged to participate in physical activity immediately after diagnosis 
• Progressing towards and maintaining at least 150 minutes of moderate‐intensity / 75 minutes of vigorous‐intensity aerobic exercise with two to three resistance exercise sessions each week 
• Having exercise recommendations tailored to their individual abilities by a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist, with factors such as treatment-related adverse effects, anticipated disease trajectory and their health status being taken into account 

Some of the studies supporting COSA’s position on the effects of exercise to cancer patients include:

• Effects and moderators of exercise on quality of life and physical function in patients with cancer: An individual patient data meta-analysis of 34 RCTs; Cancer Treat Rev, 2017. 52: p. 91-104; Buffart, L.M., et al. 
• The Impact of Exercise on Cancer Mortality, Recurrence, and Treatment-Related Adverse Effects; Cormie P, Zopf EM, Zhang X, Schmitz KH 
• Moderate-intensity exercise reduces fatigue and improves mobility in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-regression; Dennett AM1, Peiris CL2, Shields N2, Prendergast LA3, Taylor NF1. 

More articles on My Health Career:

• Gearing for the Growth of Exercise & Sports Science Professionals
• APA statement on physio role in acute ankle sprain management
• Physio sets up not-for profit exercise club for men with prostate cancer – a Q&A with Jo Milios