Cancer Support Programs
Exercise will probably be the last thing on your mind after a cancer diagnosis… but it shouldn’t be. Research continues to establish exercise as a medicine for people living with cancer.
Why is Exercise Important ?
Exercise plays an important role in the prevention of cancer and is a safe and effective strategy to counteract many of the negative physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment.
Ongoing research has shown strong evidence that the benefits of exercise (both pre- and post-diagnosis) are associated with positive cancer outcomes – function, fitness, quality of life. There is also a growing body of evidence that indicates exercise after diagnosis may improve long-term survival rates, at least in breast and colorectal cancer
Preventative
Ongoing research has shown strong evidence that exercise plays an important role in the prevention of cancer and is a safe and effective strategy to counteract many of the negative physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment.
Pre-Treatment and Surgery
Be Stronger during surgery and be able to recover faster, be candidates to receive further treatments sooner.
Side effctes of Cancer Treatmentd
Physical activity can be effective tool in the rehabilitation of cancer survivors. An exercise program can help reduce treatment side effcts such as fatigue, neuropathy, weakness, lymphedema and depression.
Recovery
Cancer survivorship brings physiological and psychological side effects such as muscular atrophy, decrease aerobic capacity, fatigue, depression, and decreased strength thus reducing quaility of life
How can an Exercise Physiologist help me?
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist will provide support, will help provide understanding as to what kind of exercise is best, and will motivate and oversee any progress throughout the recovery journey. They act like a personal cheerleader with all the knowledge needed to help someone achieve all their fitness goals.
We will be able to prescribe and monitor an individualised exercise program that helps you through:
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improved fitness and strength,
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improved physical function to help you do everyday activities,
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improved wellbeing that helps increase quality of life,
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reduced tiredness and fatigue,
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reduced distress, depression and anxiety,
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helps maintain bone health, build muscle and stop or reduce increases in fat,
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may help to lower the chance of cancer returning and help patient’s live longer (for some types of cancer especially breast, prostate and bowel cancer),
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reduce the chance of developing new cancers and other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.
Everyone’s treatment program and background is different, which means the exercise program needs to be unique as well. The very best way to know what type of exercise to do is to work with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist, as they’re experts in exercise prescription.
How can I start ?
We know exercise can make you feel happy, help minimise treatment-related side effects, and improve treatment outcomes, but it can be hard to get started. Firstly, an appointment is needed that involves talking to and assessing patients to help develop a program just for you.
How we can help get you exercsing:
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Supervising one-on-one sessions (involving instruction and monitoring on the correct exercise technique and required modifications to the exercise prescription according to any symptoms you may be experiencing),
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Group-based exercise sessions (A safe supervised environment with people who understand what you are going through, monitoring on the correct exercise technique and required modifications needed according to any symptoms you may be experiencing),
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Supporting you to exercise independently by checking in on the phone or contacting you online.
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We also collaborate with referrers and other members of your health care team to support your overall care.
