TY - JOUR
T1 - Moving forward
T2 - Strategies for general practitioners to encourage physical activity in people living with and beyond cancer
AU - Mizrahi, David
AU - Singleton, Anna C
AU - Thornton-Benko, Elysia
AU - Ee, Carolyn
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Physical activity (PA; ie any movement produced by skeletal muscles requiring energy expenditure)1 and exercise (ie planned, structured and repetitive PA for the purpose of improving health and maintaining fitness)1 have numerous benefits for people diagnosed with cancer. Those affected by cancer who engage in PA have been shown to have improved sleep quality, muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness, and a reduced risk of cancer recurrence and mortality.2 PA accumulated in both supervised and home-based settings has been shown to mitigate cancer-related fatigue, one of the most common debilitating symptoms in patients during and after treatment.3,4 Participating in PA can provide psychological benefits by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is a significant benefit for those facing the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.5 PA is even safe and effective for patients facing challenging clinical trajectories, including improving postoperative functional capacity and reducing hospital complication rates in those presurgery (‘prehabilitation’),6 and improves quality of life, fatigue, fitness and strength in patients living with advanced or palliative cancers.7 However, with 67% of cancer survivors not meeting PA guidelines,8 it is important and timely that the 151,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer annually are supported to increase their PA.9
AB - Physical activity (PA; ie any movement produced by skeletal muscles requiring energy expenditure)1 and exercise (ie planned, structured and repetitive PA for the purpose of improving health and maintaining fitness)1 have numerous benefits for people diagnosed with cancer. Those affected by cancer who engage in PA have been shown to have improved sleep quality, muscle mass and cardiorespiratory fitness, and a reduced risk of cancer recurrence and mortality.2 PA accumulated in both supervised and home-based settings has been shown to mitigate cancer-related fatigue, one of the most common debilitating symptoms in patients during and after treatment.3,4 Participating in PA can provide psychological benefits by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, which is a significant benefit for those facing the uncertainty that comes with a cancer diagnosis.5 PA is even safe and effective for patients facing challenging clinical trajectories, including improving postoperative functional capacity and reducing hospital complication rates in those presurgery (‘prehabilitation’),6 and improves quality of life, fatigue, fitness and strength in patients living with advanced or palliative cancers.7 However, with 67% of cancer survivors not meeting PA guidelines,8 it is important and timely that the 151,000 Australians diagnosed with cancer annually are supported to increase their PA.9
KW - GPs
KW - Exercise
KW - Cancer patients and survivors
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190080930&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.31128/AJGP-03-23-6760
DO - 10.31128/AJGP-03-23-6760
M3 - Article
C2 - 38575534
AN - SCOPUS:85190080930
SN - 2208-794X
VL - 53
SP - 189
EP - 192
JO - Australian Journal of General Practice
JF - Australian Journal of General Practice
IS - 4
ER -