Physical activity plays an important role in primary and tertiary prevention of cancer.
For primary prevention, Australian physical activity guidelines recommend that adults aim to achieve 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a day, or 300 minutes a day for additional health benefits including cancer prevention. At least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities each week are also recommended. For the primary prevention of cancer, dose-response effects mean that moving from ‘inactive’ to ‘modestly active’ achieves important benefits. Further, for some sites, risk reduction continues to decrease with greater volumes of physical activity.
For tertiary prevention, the COSA Position Statement on Exercise in Cancer Care recommends progressing towards and maintaining at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise and two to three muscle-strengthening sessions each week. The dose-response relationships between exercise and health outcomes in adults who have had a cancer diagnosis are less well understood.
This presentation will discuss how the estimated effects of physical activity are operationalised, and how guidelines should be considered in this context. Suggestions as to how clinicians can encourage and support engagement in physical activity will be provided.