Latrobe Valley exercise and cancer program

In collaboration with Latrobe Community Health Services and Latrobe Leisure, GRICS is supporting a pilot program to give cancer patients a pathway to participation in exercise.

Exercising whilst undergoing cancer treatment, prior to treatment and in survivorship helps to counteract the adverse effects of cancer and treatment side effects. Clinical research has established exercise as a safe and effective intervention to counteract the adverse physical and psychological effects of cancer and its treatment. Benefits include improved quality of life, energy levels, self-esteem, increased likelihood to complete treatment, and a decreased risk of other health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, decreased pain and nausea and cancer-related fatigue.

The aim of this pilot is to establish a sustainable prescriptive exercise program for oncology patients by working with community services and local fitness facilities. It is anticipated that this will increase patient confidence in the transition from the Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) multidisciplinary team (MDT) program to the exercise programs provided by the Morwell Leisure Centre (MLC). To assist this transition, MLC fitness professionals are working with the LCHS MDT to direct patients to the most appropriate classes or gym program and provide ongoing support. This model of care will be available after the pilot to be implemented in other Local Government Areas.

Exercise programs are prescribed by LCHS exercise physiologists (EPs), taking into consideration each participant’s capacity, expectations, and requirements. Group gym sessions, individual gym programs, and home-based programs will be prescribed as appropriate. Participants include all those with a cancer diagnosis, undertaking active treatment (including surgery only) and in survivorship. A support person is permitted to either undertake the exercise session or remain with the participant during their sessions.

GRICS provides financial support to nominated EPs in the region to undertake cancer-specific training through the ExMed Cancer course by Prue Cormie to ensure Gippsland patients are receiving evidenced best practice care, along with funding for those participants who are unable to co-contribute to the initial EP appointment.

GRICS also funds a number of 10-session passes to MLC, for the EP (at their discretion) to give to participants who wish to use the gym outside of their 6 supported sessions. Financial support for participants attending the EP initial assessment is allocated at the discretion of the EP. Any member of the pilot program working group, healthcare workers, or members of MLC with concerns about a participant’s financial ability to be involved may notify the LCHS pilot program (below) or the relevant EP.

Contacts

• Donna O’Callaghan GRICS Cancer Service Improvement Coordinator
  docallaghan@lrh.com.au (03) 5173 8335
• LCHS Exercise Physiologists
  exercisegroups@lchs.com.au 1800 242 696