Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Global Supportive Care Initiatives: Improving Cancer Outcomes Through Diet and Exercise (#93)

Anna Boltong 1 2 , Julia Brancato 2 , Daniel Chaji 2 , Melissa Austen 2 , Adam Lambert 2
  1. Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, , The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
  2. Cancer Australia, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia

The Australian Cancer Plan (the Plan) is a ten year national framework that will accelerate world class cancer outcomes and experiences and improve the lives of all Australians affected by cancer.

The Plan provides an opportunity to enhance consumer experience through the delivery of person-centred, equitable supportive cancer care across the cancer continuum, including strategies to reduce cancer risk and improve outcomes through diet and exercise. These strategies include:

  • delivering cancer prevention and health promotion activities that are co-designed and tailored to a range of settings including primary prevention activities, such as raising awareness of healthy lifestyle behaviours through healthy diets and physical activity to reduce cancer risk
  • strengthening health literacy, particularly for priority population groups, such as increasing access to tailored, evidence based nutrition and physical activity programs to prevent obesity and support healthy diets
  • employing evidence based models of care that extend telehealth and digital health to all types of care and services, including allied health and supportive care, enabling the prioritisation of supportive care.

The Australian Cancer Plan will complement and leverage a number of existing national and global supportive care initiatives aimed at improving cancer outcomes through diet and exercise, and will support world-class health systems to improve equitable cancer outcomes and experiences for all people affected by cancer.