Exercise Oncology from Diagnosis to Treatment: An Overview of Outcomes and Considerations

Abstract

Cancer patients and survivors experience wide-ranging acute and persistent toxicities that have implications to reduced physical function, cardiovascular and metabolic complications, musculoskeletal health and quality of life. Over the past several years, the field of exercise oncology has demonstrated a number of opportunities for the use of exercise as a medicine to preserve function and ameliorate and reverse a range of treatment-related adverse effects in patients with cancer receiving treatment. Numerous randomized controlled trials have evolved from early study reports on symptom controls to more contemporary trials investigating clinical and disease-specific endpoints. In this chapter, we provide a brief overview of common cancer treatments and adverse effects and examples of early to contemporary exercise oncology studies including those from pretreatment to during treatment phases examining a range of outcomes and provide considerations and future opportunities in this well-established and yet continuing area of research growth in exercise oncology. As the field continues to evolve in its breath, scope and rigour, future large definitive trials will provide more conclusive information on the role of exercise and its impact on disease progression and cancer-specific and overall survival.