Exercise is known to have numerous benefits to cancer patients, including improving strength, reducing fatigue, and enhancing treatment outcomes. Yet despite decades of research highlighting these benefits, less than 13 per cent of cancer patients are referred to specialised exercise programs following their diagnosis.
Dr Mary Kennedy, an exercise physiologist and researcher at Edith Cowan University, is determined to change this statistic. With funding from Cancer Council WA, she is researching how exercise can be integrated into cancer care.
"We have decades of evidence showing its benefits, but implementing these findings into practice has been a challenge. Unfortunately, referral rates to exercise programs haven't improved.
"I want to ensure every person with cancer has the opportunity to engage in exercise as part of their care", explains Dr Kennedy.
Bridging the gap between evidence and practice
Dr Kennedy has teamed up with eight GenesisCare cancer treatment centres in Western Australia to conduct this research. After speaking with patients and clinicians, she found that many patients were unaware of how exercise could help their treatment.
"When we spoke with patients, many of them felt that no one had discussed the importance of exercise with them", she explains.
She adds, "This project is not about creating a new exercise program, but rather connecting patients with existing resources, and ensuring that no patients are 'falling through the cracks'".
Patients aren't routinely being recommended exercise
Dr Yvonne Zissiadis, a radiation oncologist and medical director for GenesisCare WA, works closely with Dr Kennedy on her research project. She speaks to her patients every day about the difference exercise can make.
"We are in a very privileged position of seeing patients during their cancer journey, so we can make a real difference to how they feel not only during the treatment, but also in their life after cancer", Dr Zissiadis explains. "We know that staying active during treatment helps patient'wellbeing and allows them to return to their regular lives more quickly."
While most patients understand that exercise is beneficial to health, they often don't realise its specific impact on risk of recurrence. Educating patients about these cancer-specific connections has been a key motivator for engagement.
However, according to Dr Zissiadis, having the resources available is not enough - patients need to be supported to actually use them.
"It's not just about having the gym facilities here. We've also changed the referral to an exercise physiologist from an 'opt-in' to an 'opt-out'. This means all patients are told that they will be speaking to an exercise physiologist, who has training in exercise and cancer", Dr Zissiadis explains.
"Numerous patients, including those who already exercise, have told us that they were surprised at how helpful the exercise physiologist was and how it has given them the confidence to know what they should be careful of, and what they should focus on when exercising", she says.
Dr Kennedy and the team at GenesisCare are now looking into the patient journey after these initial conversations, including how they can connect patients to exercise programs in their communities.
A vision for more holistic healthcare
Dr Kennedy envisages a future where exercise is a standard part of cancer care, emphasising the need for policy changes to allow this to happen.
"I hope healthcare evolves so that exercise is integrated into every cancer patient's treatment plan," she says. "We need policies at local, state, and national levels advocating for exercise in cancer care and healthcare in general."
As Dr Kennedy and her team lay the groundwork for a future where exercise is considered an essential part of holistic cancer care, they hope it results in improved recovery and better treatment outcomes for cancer patients.
Innovative research projects, such as Dr Kennedy's, would not be possible without generous community support. Donate to support local cancer research today.
