Exercise Physiology Team:
Dr Shelley Kay, Catherine Seet-Lee, and Ainsley Bell
To make an appointment and to enquire about fees, please call 02 8514 0038 (leave a message) or email livingroom@lh.org.au.
If you’re undergoing treatment for cancer, exercise may be the last thing on your mind. A combination of medication, other treatments and bed rest can lead to a sense of fatigue, loss of strength and reduced quality of life, making it difficult to find the energy or motivation to be physically active.
However, research has shown that inactivity may increase rates of recurrence for several cancers and may have an effect on survival. It is therefore important that you stay as active as possible during and after your treatment.
Exercise has also been shown to improve some of the side effects of cancer treatment. Exercise physiology can help you to find ways to manage fatigue, rebuild strength and endurance, improve or maintain bone density, manage your weight, increase mobility after surgery and improve balance.
Our accredited exercise physiologists are allied health professionals who are eligible to register with Medicare Australia and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and are recognised by most private health insurers. They have a special interest and experience in exercise for people living with cancer. They work with patients to improve strength and endurance, manage weight, provide post-operative rehabilitation and use physical activity to relieve some of the symptoms and side effects of cancer and certain cancer treatments.
Meet our team
Senior Exercise Physiologist
BA (Psych), BSpSc, MSpSc (Hons), PhD
Shelley has a PhD in exercise physiology with extensive experience in clinical practice, research and lecturing. She is interested in the mechanisms that explain how exercise can modify risk factors for disease, including cancer. Her research background involved investigating the influence of different types of exercise on changes in fat, muscle, and bone and how this impacts health and disease. This theme is directly relevant to many types of cancer. Her work in exercise and body composition has also involved many different populations from elite athletes to nonagenarians (the oldest was 98).
“It’s magic to see positive changes in people who are experiencing health challenges such as cancer,” says Shelley. “I’m committed and passionate about delivering exercise medicine, but I also understand how important it is to support and respect individual decisions to enhance confidence and sustain the benefits.” We have lots of people in our clinic who have never exercised before and who say they would not consider going to a gym. Those participants feel the benefits and people here are happy. Our approach is to listen, start where the individual is ready to start, plan and encourage progression and to have a lot of fun”.
Exercise Physiologist
Ainsley is an accredited exercise physiologist, specialising in multiple/complex chronic conditions, MSK conditions and oncology. Her areas of interest include neurological symptoms, bone metastasis, and living well with advanced cancer.
Ainsley says she was attracted to working at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse because, “it’s more than just the most innovative hospital for oncology in the country, but a place that treats people with compassion. It’s a place where we treat the whole person, instead of just focusing on the physical health of each patient.”
The most rewarding element of her role is to see people coming in feeling fatigued, aged, tired, and mentally low, and then helping them to feel stronger, happier, and more energetic.
Exercise Physiologist
Catherine was attracted to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse for its holistic approach to patient care. She is also passionate about contributing to research that can improve patients’ treatment and quality of life.
“What I find most rewarding about my job is when patients tell me how much of an impact exercise has had in their treatment and survivorship. Patients are often surprised at how much better they feel physically and mentally, both during and after treatment, when exercising,” she said.
Exercise physiology is exercise that helps prevent and manage chronic diseases and injuries. Accredited exercise physiologists hold a four-year university degree and are allied health professionals who are eligible to register with Medicare Australia and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and are recognised by most private health insurers.
In a cancer care context, exercise physiologists work with patients to improve strength and endurance, manage weight, provide post-operative rehabilitation and use physical activity to relieve some of the symptoms and side effects of cancer and certain cancer treatments.
All exercise physiology consultations at Lifehouse are provided by accredited exercise physiologists with a special interest and experience in working with cancer patients.
At your first appointment you’ll be asked about your medical and exercise history and the impact that your illness and treatment are having on you. This will usually be followed by an assessment which may include balance and strength testing, an assessment of your aerobic fitness and perhaps some questions to find out more about your quality of life and any issues with fatigue.
Following this, you and your accredited exercise physiologist will set realistic goals, discuss barriers to exercise and develop an activity action plan that’s right for you, based on your cancer type, the treatments you’re receiving and any other conditions or circumstances that might be relevant. Your plan could include fatigue management, a home exercise routine, a gym program or mind body therapies like yoga.
Small group exercise classes are also run at the Lifehouse patient gym on most days. These provide guidance in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere. Sessions generally include aerobic, muscle strengthening and mobility exercises. Each program is individually tailored and limited to six people.
Evidence for exercise
There is very strong evidence that exercise is safe during and after cancer treatment and that it improves cardiovascular fitness, strength and overall health.
Evidence from clinical studies indicates that exercise can improve body composition and quality of life, while reducing fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Emerging evidence suggests that exercise during and after treatment results in reduced cancer recurrence and improved survival for several cancers. There is also convincing evidence that cancer occurrence is influenced by physical activity levels.
Exercise and fatigue
A combination of medication, other treatments and bed rest can lead to a sense of fatigue for many people being treated for cancer. It may seem counter-intuitive, but exercise has actually been shown to improve fatigue levels in people living with various cancers. An exercise physiologist can help you to find the right balance between rest and physical activity to improve your cancer-related fatigue. Research also shows that exercise can improve sleeplessness for people suffering from insomnia, especially if the insomnia is related to anxiety.
Exercise and rehabilitation
Exercise often plays an important role in post-operative rehabilitation. Exercise can build strength, improve balance, range of motion and flexibility and also enhance your quality of life if you’ve recently undergone surgery. Certain stretches and movements can be used to provide relief from pain caused by restricted range of motion, especially post-surgery. Corrective exercises can also improve your symptoms and pain tolerance as well as developing balance and increasing bone density.
Exercise and depression
When you’re dealing with a cancer diagnosis it’s common to experience feelings of fear and some mild depression. When it comes to the treatment of mild to moderate depression as well as anxiety, research has shown that exercise is just as effective as medication. If your care plan already involves a combination of medications, using physical activity to manage feelings of depression can be doubly helpful, as you avoid further medications (along with the associated expense and risk of contraindications) and can enjoy the other general benefits of exercise as a flow on effect.
General benefits of exercise
Diminished fatigue.
Increased strength, balance and fitness.
Improved overall health and wellbeing.
Better quality of life.
Management of anxiety.
Assist with post-operative rehabilitation.
Improved range of motion and flexibility.
Are there any risks involved?
While research suggests that physical activity is important and helpful for people living with cancer, there are a few practical considerations involved when developing your exercise plan. It’s important that you speak with your specialist and get clearance prior to beginning an exercise program, especially if you’re recovering from treatment or surgery. Your exercise physiologist can suggest gentle forms of exercise that are appropriate for you, taking considerations such as fitness level, pain, balance (if you’re at risk of falls) and strength into account when developing your care plan. Other factors including the treatments you’re undergoing, the kind of cancer you have and your overall health will also be considered to ensure the approach is tailored to your needs and safe for your condition.
To make an appointment and to find out the full range of our fees, please call 02 8514 0038 (leave a message) or email livingroom@lh.org.au.
We are here to help you so if you are having financial hardship please contact us. Our main priority is to care and support you, that is what we do.
Patients who are referred by their GP under a management or care plan may be entitled to claim a rebate for individual consultations either from Medicare or their private health insurance, depending on level of cover.
For private health insurance patients, a receipt is provided for the patient to claim as this service is not available in the LivingRoom.
We look forward to hearing from you.