Illawarra cancer patients first to participate in new Australian program trial

Nov 25, 2004

Illawarra residents with breast and prostate cancer will participate in the first trial to be conducted in Australia to investigate the benefits of special exercise programs in respect of their illness.

The three-year University of Wollongong project funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) is now seeking 100 breast and 100 prostate cancer patients aged up to 75. The volunteer recruitment program will continue until the end of 2005.

Research Fellow, Dr Nancy Humpel, of the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, said the incidence of breast and prostate cancers had increased significantly over the past 25 years and this, combined with improvements in treatment, meant that an ever-increasing number of people with these cancers were survivors.

"While people diagnosed with breast and prostate cancers live longer than before, the treatment process often results in severe psychological and physical side effects," she said.

The aim of the ARC project is to see whether cancer patients who do some regular walking and/or gentle strength exercises cope better as they go through the treatment process and during rehabilitation.

Dr Humpel said patients for the study could be currently receiving treatment or have completed treatment up to two years previously.

The study is not recommended for people who are already very active, and those with a physical or medical problem that would stop them from being able to walk regularly.

The interventions will be conducted over a 12-week period. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

*A home-based walking program (individualised for each person)

*The same walking program plus a gentle strength training program (using a resistance band)

*A comparison group receiving 'usual' care

Eligible participants who wish to join the study will be required to come to the University of Wollongong twice during the 12-week program to complete a questionnaire and do a walking test on a treadmill.

"As this is the first such trial to be conducted in Australia, the people of the Illawarra have an important role to play and we need their help. If these physical activity programs prove effective, doctors and patients will benefit from having access to an inexpensive, effective and safe option for managing symptoms from cancer and its treatments," Dr Humpel said.

Cancer is rapidly emerging as the most significant health condition affecting the Australian population. Cancer is the number one cause of death among 45-64-year-old women and men and the number two cause of death among 25-44 and 65-84 year-old women and men. Breast and prostate cancers are the most commonly diagnosed cancers.

Phone contact for participants and media enquiries: Dr Nancy Humpel (02) 4221 5441 or 0422 027 700 (m)

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128