Transcript Beyond Pink Exercise Programme

Going Beyond Pink
The importance of exercise for
survivorship
Dr Lynnette M Jones
School of Physical Education
University of Otago
Exercise and Breast Cancer
The evidence mounts!
 Search in Scopus:

 Breast cancer AND exercise
 2,028 articles
 Reviews = 541
 495 in English
 Research areas include genetic, quality of life,
physical, cognitive, and physiological responses
Body systems affected by exercise
and by cancer treatment
Exercise
Cancer Treatment
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Nervous
 Musculoskeletal
 Cardiovascular
 Respiratory
 Metabolic
 Endocrine
 Immune
 Renal
 Cognitive function
 Psychological health
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Nervous
 Functional changes
 Sensation change
 Neuropathies
 Cognitive function
Musculoskeletal
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Metabolic
Endocrine
Immune
Renal
Psychological health
Benefits of exercise during treatment
- ACS

Exercise may:
 Improve physical abilities
 Improve balance, reduce falls risk
 Maintain muscle and bone health
 Reduce CHD risk
 Reduce nausea, fatigue, anxiety and depression
 Maintain independence
 Improve self-esteem and quality of life
 Assist weight control
Benefits of exercise for survivors
Improves:
 Aerobic fitness
 Muscle strength
 Functional capacity
 Shoulder function
 Bone health
 Quality of life
 Body image
 Self-esteem
Decreases:
 Lymphedema risk
 Lymphedema
symptoms/flare ups
 Fatigue
 Pain
 Depression
 Anxiety
When is exercise important?
As soon as possible!
 Preferably during treatment
 Evidence that exercise can offset effects
of cancer treatment
 Some suggestion exercise may also
provide support to complete treatment
 If unable to exercise during treatment,
then as soon as capable post

Exercise Challenges
 Many
women have comorbidities
 During treatment programming will
differ from that utilised following
treatment and time since treatment
ended
 Women unsure of what they can do
 Does the person prescribing the
exercise programme understand the
effects of treatment?
Beyond Pink
 The
Beyond Pink Exercise Program
was established:
 To meet the specific needs of women,
either in active treatment or who have
completed treatment, and
 To provide teaching and learning
opportunities for fourth year students of
Exercise Prescription
How it works
Referrals are initiated at oncology
consultation
 Some by self-referral or
recommendation by others in
programme
 Consent and information forms sent to
each individual
 Follow up phone call
 Initial consultation
 First exercise session

Self-reported changes
Increased self-confidence
10 (55%)
Improved sleep
6 (33%)
Increased ROM of affected arm
16 (89%)
Increased energy
12 (67%)
Increased strength
13 (72%)
 physical activity (outside sessions)
10 (55%)
Decreased fatigue
5 (28%)
Received positive comments
6 (33%)
No significant changes
1 (5%)
Empowerment through Exercise
“Support and motivation of the trainer
means that I have been much more
inclined to exercise than I would have if
was by myself. Psychologically it is a huge
help.”
 The psychological benefits gained through
this programme have been enormous, at a
time when one feels at their ‘lowest’ ebb!
Thank you so much for all your
encouragement in restoring my
confidence.”

The Ultimate Challenge!
Need to expand these opportunities
 Flexibility in programming required
 Thorough knowledge of exercise
physiology and treatment effects = safe
and effective exercise for patients and
survivors
 Money needed for training and delivery
 Healthy survivorship includes exercise!
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Questions?