Improved early detection and treatment of our most prevalent cancers has resulted in Australia having some of the highest cancer survival rates in the world, and along with this, a growing number of cancer survivors. However, this increased survival is also associated with the presence and persistence of treatment-related side-effects, as well as increased risk for cancer recurrence and for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and functional decline.
A strong evidence base attests to the ability of regular physical activity, a healthy diet and weight control to reduce both the short- and longer-term adverse effects of cancer treatment. However, lifestyle interventions are not incorporated into routine cancer care.
Our survivorship research aims to evaluate the integration of evidence-based, broad-reach lifestyle interventions for cancer survivors, in particular for gynaecological and breast cancers.
Survivorship Projects
- S.A.F.E: Safety and feasibility of exercise for women with breast cancer
- The pulling through study
- Healthy Living after Cancer
- Improving the Treatment for Women With Early Stage Cancer of the Uterus (feMMe)
- The ECHO trial: Exercise during CHemotherapy for Ovarian cancer
- Exercise for health: a breast cancer recovery study
- Regional and rural breast cancer study
- Exercise and lymphoedema
- The pulling through study: a follow-up (Genetic polymorphisms and risk of secondary lymphoedema after breast cancer: a nested case-control study)
- The LEGS trial (lymphoedema in gynaecological cancer study)
- Pathways to health: a web-delivered physical activity program to assist women surviving breast cancer meet their activity goals
- Telephone Follow-up after treatment for endometrial cancer (The TEACUP study)
- Healthy Mobile Check-Ins: using mobile locative media to map opportunities for lifestyle change in survivors of endometrial cancer
Patient Education Projects
Information is important to people newly diagnosed with cancer to assist them to make treatment decisions, and also to help them to cope with their illness. The following ihop research has been conducted to try to improve information delivery for these patients and their families.