Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Time spent exercising after completion of adjuvant treatment (146369)

Eric Chen 1 , Sim Yee (Cindy) Tan 1 2 3 , Jane Turner 1 , Eliza Macdonald 1 4 , Kim Kerin-Ayres 1 , Ash Malalasekera 1 , Haryana Dhillon 5 , Janette Vardy 1 2 3
  1. Concord Cancer Centre , Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  2. Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  3. Australian Research Centre for Cancer Survivorship , Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney , Sydney, Australia
  4. UNSW Sydney, School of Health Sciences,, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology,, University of Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales , Australia

Background

Exercise across the cancer continuum is safe and improves clinical outcomes including survival. Here, we evaluate self-reported physical activity levels of cancer survivors following primary neo/adjuvant treatment. 

Methods:

Survivors completed patient-reported outcomes measure before initial visit with Sydney Cancer Survivorship Clinic (SCSC). Active Australia questionnaire was used 09/2014--04/2017; modified Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ) (04/2017-current) to capture exercise data. Resistance data available on LTEQ only.  Time spent on vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise was doubled to convert to moderate-intensity exercise.  Number of resistance exercise sessions/week and time spent on moderate-intensity exercise were used to determine proportion of survivors meeting COSA exercise guidelines. 

Simple descriptive statistical methods were used.

Results:

1081 cancer survivors attending SCSC from 09/2013 to 12/2025 consented to use of their data. Survivors were Mostly female (68%, n=738), 38% breast; 33% colorectal; 16% haematological; 12% other cancers. 34% aged ≥65 years. Median time from diagnosis 11-months (IQR 8.4-14.3). 

Exercise data were available for 978 survivors; 55% reported no time on moderate-intensity aerobic exercise/week, 5% 1-59mins/week; 15% 60-149mins/week, and 24% >150mins/week (also met aerobic exercise guideline).  

746 survivors completed LTEQ; 76% reported no resistance exercise, 6% reported 1 session/week and 18% ≥2 sessions/week. Overall 7% (n=49/736) met COSA exercise guidelines for resistance and aerobic exercise.

A subset (n=164) of medical records were reviewed, 33 survivors had seen an exercise physiologist (EP) prior to attending SCSC; aerobic and resistance training data were available for n=30/33.  Among them, 37% reported no resistance training, 37% one session/week and 26% ≥2 sessions/week; 23% met aerobic exercise guidelines and 10% met COSA guidelines.

Conclusion:

Despite benefits of exercise, most cancer survivors were doing no or minimal moderate-to-vigorous intensity aerobic and resistance exercise.  The EP intervention appeared to increase survivors' participation in resistance training, suggesting that early intervention may be beneficial.