Can exercise improve cancer survival rates?
Exploring how exercise can lead to better outcomes for cancer patients.
Exercise can help cancer patients with symptom control, quality of life, and improving treatment tolerance, according to research. But can it improve the survival rates of people suffering from cancer?
Dr Gillian Prue at the School of Nursing and Midwifery has led extensive research into the link between exercise and outcomes for cancer patients.
How exercise can help patients with prostate cancer
Dr Prue took part in a global research trial that reviewed the effects of high intensity exercise on the progression of prostate cancer and treatment side effects.
A local study took place in Northern Ireland to research the feasibility of exercise programs for patients unable to perform high-intensity exercise.
This was the first study of its kind among men with advanced prostate cancer. It reviewed the possibility and efficacy of physical activity and set the benchmark for patients suffering from other forms of cancer.
Can exercise help treat other forms of cancer?
The study has been extended to research the effects of exercise on patients with pancreatic cancer.
Patients took part in a 16-week progressive exercise program while receiving chemotherapy. The research assessed the feasibility of the program, including recruitment and retention rates. It also focused on the safety of the patients.
The study reviewed changes in fitness and patient-reported outcomes at the beginning, end and three months after the intervention.
Dr Prue and her team have since started researching how exercise can impact those suffering from colorectal cancer. The study tailors supervised physical activity and nutritional counselling interventions to patients.
Improving access to exercise for cancer patients
Dr Prue aims to improve access to exercise programs beyond clinical trials. Her research explores methods to improve participation and adherence to exercise among individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
In addition, there is a brand-new project that reviews the effect of exercise among people diagnosed with lung cancer.
Could exercise reduce the negative side effects of cancer treatment?
Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) treatment involves several rounds of intense chemotherapy. This treatment often causes fatigue and has a negative impact on emotional wellbeing and quality of life.
Prehabilitation programs incorporate exercise, nutrition and psychological wellbeing to support patients undergoing AML treatment. Dr Prue is researching the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of these programs.
What does this research mean for the future?
The positive outcomes of the research trials so far make it clear that exercise needs to be made more available to cancer patients, with further promotion of groups such as Macmillan Move More.
Additionally, it is evident that both group based exercise programmes and one-to-one exercise programmes for patients with more complex needs should be available in cancer centres, and a screening and triaging tool needs to be developed to determine which is the best fit for each patient.
