Evidence is growing about the benefits to cancer patients being prescribed exercise in conjunction with their standard chemotherapy and or radiation treatments.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recently the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) prepared an Exercise in Cancer Care paper supporting it.
The paper stated doctors should prescribe particular exercise regimes and refer patients to exercise specialists with experience in cancer care.
But Wollongong businesswoman Kylie Moffitt was already breaking ground in the area well before that.
On Friday was been recognised for her achievements with the 2018 Illawarra Business Award for Outstanding Customer Service and was named Outstanding Business Leader.
In May her PhysioHealth and Sports Injury Clinic was named Best Small Business at the Illawarra Women in Business Awards.
Mrs Moffitt has long been aware of the positive impact exercise can have for people battling cancer and established Illawarra’s first specific cancer exercise and education program called CanConquer as a private clinic for cancer patients to exercise under the expertise of trained exercise physiologists.
After years looking at the benefits herself she was further inspired to take action when she attended a training conference in 2016 and learned about impacts others were seeing exercise programs have on cancer treatment.
CanConquer initially operated at Physiohealth Sports and Injury Clinic behind the old Civic Video store in Corrimal. But with the support of local oncologists including Professor Philip Clingan, she opened another designated CanConquer clinic in the Piccadilly Centre just 400 metres from Wollongong Hospital to provide easier access for cancer patients. Treatement is available through GP Enhanced Medical Health Care plans. During her career as an exercise physiologist and physiotherapist Mrs Moffitt conducted her own research which helped her develop her CanConquer program that presently has a positive impact for around 100 patients a week.
Mrs Moffitt’s passion for ensuring everyone is treated with the highest level of care is clear. Every patient has an individually designed program. “The main point I would like to get across is for cancer patients not to fear the exercise and not feel like it would be too overwhelming. It is safe and you will be well looked after”.
Mrs Moffitt’s CanConquer journey became more personal 11 months ago when her mother-in-law Jennifer Moffitt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Sitting on a bench outside the Corrimal clinic built by another client Stephen Meredith, Jennifer Moffitt said she did a CanConquer session after every chemo session and would recommend it to anyone fighting cancer.
“After the diagnosis Kylie tried to get me fit and healthy before I started treatment and we have continued it through my treatment. There are times I don’t want to do it. But I feel a different person by the time I am finished. I feel much more energised and I feel better. I look and feel completely different by the time I finish. It always lifts my spirits.”
Mr Meredith said building the bench was the least he could do because he could not thank Mrs Moffitt enough for how she had helped him improve his fitness and strength and kept him motivated.
Mrs Moffitt said the proven benefits of exercise during treatment include:
- Increased efficacy of chemotherapy agents
- Production of cancer-fighting chemicals within the body
- Improvement in energy levels and a reduction in fatigue
- There are also the social and emotional benefits of a shared experience with others.
Mrs Moffitt has written much about the subject and has even developed an app for people in remote rural communities to benefit from her program.
“It’s long been common knowledge that exercise is good for you health in general. In the case of cancer patients, however, it has not been seen as necessary. In fact, physical activity has been frowned upon by many, insisting that patients should be conserving their energy during oncology treatment,” Mrs Moffitt wrote.
“There is mounting evidence now that exercise is not only beneficial for cancer patients, but in fact, it may be a vital key in improving their response to conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.
“The evidence is so strong, that in late 2017, the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), released a position statement recommending that all people with cancer should be participating in exercise programs during and following their treatment.
“Research has shown that physical exercise not only has a significant impact on symptoms such as nausea, fatigue and pain management, but it is actually resulting in a decreased mortality rate among cancer patients.
“Larger cancer care centres, including the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse in Sydney has designated exercise physiology unit, but until recently, very few allied health practitioners in regional areas have had specific training in working with cancer patients.”
“The research has shown that exercise is particularly effective when done immediately before or after cancer treatments. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to get here and complete their program with us”
The CanConquer team includes accredited exercise physiologists, physiotherapists and a dietician, all of whom have completed additional qualifications in working with cancer patients. They have specific training in breast and prostate cancer but have experience with many other types of cancers.
For those interested in learning more about the effect of exercise on cancer treatment, Kylie recommends the ABC’s Catalyst episode, “Exercise and Cancer”. Patients can enquire about the CanConquer program via their website at www.canconquer.com.au or by calling (02) 4207 9999.
