Exercise is a proven ‘medicine’ for cancer

Regular and vigorous exercise has been scientifically established as providing strong preventative medicine against cancer, according to West Australian Professor Daniel Galvão.

Professor Galvão, who addressed the Royal Australian College of Surgeon’s Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) in Perth last week, says exercise has an important role to play in the prevention and management of cancer with numerous observational studies also suggesting a protective effect of exercise after a cancer diagnosis.

Professor Galvão stated “the effect is strongest for breast and colorectal cancer however evidence is accumulating for the protective influence on prostate cancer.”

Professor Galvão, the Professor of Exercise Science and Co-Director of the Edith Cowan University Health and Wellness Institute in Perth, said that following cancer diagnosis, exercise prescription could have very positive benefits for improving surgical outcomes, reducing symptom experience, managing side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, improving psychological health, maintaining physical function, and reducing fat gain and muscle and bone loss.

He explained “hormone therapies for breast and prostate cancer can result in an alarmingly increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia.

“Increasingly, patients are questioning the benefit of some cancer treatments as the risk of morbidity and mortality from other chronic diseases begins to outweigh the initial cancer diagnosis.

“Over three decades of research in exercise science demonstrate the efficacy of appropriate physical activity for preventing and managing these secondary diseases.

“Based on this evidence it is now clear to us that exercise is a critical adjuvant therapy in the management of many cancers and can greatly enhance the therapeutic effects of traditional radiation and pharmaceutical treatments by increasing tolerance, reducing side effects, and lowering risk of chronic diseases, even those not aggravated by cancer treatment.”

Regular exercise should be encouraged in all populations, particularly those at higher risk of cancer and further to that, Professor Galvão said that exercise as medicine must be incorporated in the routine clinical care of cancer patients to improve quality of life as well as reduce morbidity and possible extend survival.

Professor Galvão’s research has been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, European Urology and Cancer and he has co-authored the Exercise and Sports Science Australia position stand in exercise and cancer (2009) and the American College of Sports Medicine’s exercise guidelines for cancer survivors (2010).

Over a thousand surgeons from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons as well as international surgeons from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh gathered at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 4th to 8th May for a series of workshops, discussions, Plenaries and masterclasses across a broad range of surgical issues.

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and New Zealand.

For more information go to www.surgeons.org

Image courtesy of Glen Eira Sports & Aquatic Centre.

27th April 2015 - CHILDHOOD OBESITY STUDY EMPHASISES IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE FOR YOUNG AND OLD

18th February 2015 - NEW ZEALAND MOVES FORWARD WITH GREEN PRESCRIPTIONS 

13th January 2015 - EDITOR QUESTIONS CLAIMS THAT CANCER IS ‘BAD LUCK’

3rd December 2014 - REPORT IDENTIFIES GROWTH IN PERSONAL TRAINING LED BY RISING LEVELS OF HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS

3rd November 2014 - AUSTRALIANS NEGLECTING PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF EXERCISE 

24th March 2014 - EXERCISE & SPORTS SCIENCE AUSTRALIA CALLS FOR GOVERNMENTS TO RECOGNISE EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY IN HEALTH 

26th September 2012 - FITNESS AUSTRALIA RESEARCHS MEDICAL AND EXERCISE REFERRALS

21st October 2011 - FITNESS NOT FATNESS SHOULD BE MANTRA

11th August 2011 - EXERCISE SHOULD BE 'STANDARD PART OF CANCER CARE'

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.