Evidence-Based Strategies for Health Professionals: Addressing Exercise and Cancer-Related Fatigue in Cancer Survivors.

Cancer survivors often endure debilitating cancer-related fatigue (CRF) post treatment, significantly impacting their quality of life and daily activities. As accredited exercise physiologists (AEP), our paramount focus is on integrating evidence-based strategies to mitigate CRF and enhance the overall well-being of this population.

A recent meta-analysis highlights exercise interventions as a viable approach to alleviate CRF and improve quality of life (QoL) among clients. The meta-analysis underscores the effectiveness of aerobic exercise interventions lasting less than 12 weeks, with a frequency of three sessions per week, particularly beneficial for female cancer clients. It's noteworthy that the participants in this study included people aged over 18 with any cancer type, irrespective of sex or cancer stage (Chen et al., 2023).

This presentation will delve into the efficacy of exercise interventions in managing cancer-related fatigue, featuring case studies from our own clients exemplifying tailored exercise regimens and their positive impact on CRF levels, QOL, and functional capacity among cancer survivors.

One such case study spotlights Mrs. A, a 61-year-old breast cancer survivor in the survivorship phase. Despite grappling with multiple health challenges, including depression, osteoarthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, and asthma post-cancer treatment, Mrs. A was able to engage in a lower body strength-based program twice a week and progressive walking program with supervision online from an AEP. Remarkably, her initially severe fatigue levels (36, severe) improved gradually over 1 month of intervention to normal levels (18, normal), as evidenced by the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) results.

This presentation endeavours to equip healthcare professionals with evidence based tools to seamlessly integrate exercise as a cornerstone in the holistic care of cancer survivors, ultimately fostering their resilience and enhancing their quality of life.