Alyssa Le, Hannah-Rose Mitchell, Daniel J. Zheng, Jaime Rotatori, John T. Fahey, Kirsten K. Ness, Nina S. Kaden-Lottick
Increases in childhood cancer survival rates have made the adverse long-term effects of cancer and its treatment a health concern. It is estimated that childhood cancer survivors are 3.3 times more likely than their siblings to have a chronic health condition. Survivors experience reduced fitness, fatigue, musculoskeletal morbidity, neurocognitive impairment and are at greater risk of a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. These adverse outcomes can negatively impact survivors’ physical performance, social and executive functioning and emotional health.
Participation in physical activity is essential for the development of all children. It improves short- and long-term physical outcomes in other paediatric chronic disease populations and adult cancer populations. Therefore, it may be possible to prevent or attenuate long-term adverse effects of childhood cancer through increased engagement in physical activity during treatment.
