HBF report part 1: Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Breast and prostate cancer survivors are at severe risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or a secondary cancer. Exercise can ameliorate treatment side effects and reduce mortality and secondary disease risk. The study recruited 105 breast and prostate cancer survivors, who were members of HBF, to participate in the research. The intervention tested provided group exercise and counselling sessions for 8 weeks, and follow up participants 6 months after enrolling in the research. The intervention group improved on all measures of health, fitness, quality of life, and fatigue. The benefits seen on these measures may lead to greater than 50% reduction in all cause mortality amongst participants.

    The evidence provided by this study should encourage HBF to promote structured exercise programs to its members who had treatment for or are at risk of developing cancer. Recommendations are made to focus on promoting exercise through the encouragement of people’s primary physicians and to support existing exercise programs in the Perth metropolitan area.