The Group will work towards developing valuable resources to support and promote high quality research, education and advocacy in exercise and cancer.
Exercise in Cancer Care Position Statement
The COSA position statement on Exercise in Cancer Care was officially launched at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre on the 7 May 2018, and has also been highlighted in an article published in the Medical Journal of Australia and an MJA podcast.
It is the first position statement worldwide to call for exercise to be an essential component of cancer treatment and has been endorsed by the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, Cancer Council Australia, Exercise and Sports Science Australia, and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. It is also supported by 30 influential cancer and health organisations.
Updated in December 2020, changes include a greater emphasis on the triad recommendation of “Discuss, Recommend and Refer”, less prescriptive language, new images to illustrate exercise in a variety of settings, along with engaging with specialist clinicians who are experienced in cancer care for an individualised exercise program.
The evidence to support the recommendation that every person diagnosed with cancer should be prescribed exercise alongside their cancer treatments is convincing.
The COSA position statement calls for:
- Exercise to be embedded as part of standard practice in cancer care and to be viewed as an adjunct therapy that helps counteract the adverse effects of cancer and its treatment
- All members of the multidisciplinary cancer team to promote physical activity and recommend people with cancer follow the exercise guidelines
- Optimal practice to offer referral to an accredited exercise physiologist or physiotherapist with experience in cancer care for an individualised exercise program
- Effective exercise prescriptions can be delivered in hospitals, cancer treatment centres, community and home-based settings
COSA would like to sincerely thank the working group who developed the position statement and everyone who provided feedback during the consultation. We hope you will find this position statement useful and encourage you to share it with all your colleagues.
Download a copy of this infographic!
Prostate Cancer PD - a professional development course for exercise specialists
TEDx Talk: A new contender in the fight against cancer - Prue Cormie
Catalyst - Exercise and Cancer
Life Matters - Combating prostate cancer's side effects with exercise
