Sex and Gender Considerations after Surviving Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: An Exercise Oncology Context

Abstract

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer in children worldwide. The distinction between sex (i.e., biological parameters) and gender (i.e., sociocultural and behavior) is not always taken into consideration in an exercise oncology context, despite its importance for the patient's care. A recent study showed that female survivors were more affected than males by low cardiorespiratory fitness several years after the end of their cancer treatments. This is all the more worrying considering that for a clinically equivalent level of moderate to vigorous physical activities, cardiorespiratory fitness is significantly lower in female survivors, compared with healthy females. Thus, the need for studies that help to better understand the physical deconditioning of female survivors after ALL is an essential aspect of exercise and oncology research. Because female survivors' cardiorespiratory fitness is directly impacted for many years, this article aims at discussing these aspects in an exercise and oncology context with sex and gender consideration.