VIDEO CONFERENCE “PHYSICAL EXERCISE IN ONCOLOGY PATIENTS: CLINICAL BENEFITS, IMPACT ON QUALITY OF LIFE, AND ROLE IN THE THERAPEUTIC PATHWAY”

The video conference dedicated to physical exercise in cancer patients, a highly topical issue that is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment pathway and in the broader concept of integrated oncology, was successfully held.

The meeting, organized by Glioblastoma.IT ODV, was introduced by Roberto Pugliese and featured presentations by Dr. Lorella Turroni, physiatrist and Medical Director of the Prime Center – Integrated Oncology Rehabilitation Center of the Romagna Oncology Institute in Cesena, and Mattia Pirani, oncology trainer at the same center.

The videoconference provided an opportunity to explore a topic increasingly gaining ground in scientific literature and clinical practice: physical activity is not simply a generic recommendation, but rather a potential supportive therapy, to be assessed and adapted to each individual patient’s condition, including in the context of brain tumors and neuro-oncology.

The following points were explored during the meeting:

• The role of exercise in cancer patients: physical activity, when properly prescribed and supervised, can help improve overall function, treatment tolerance, muscle tone, and the patient’s ability to cope with treatment.
• Quality of life and independence: one of the most important aspects that emerged was the contribution of physical exercise to maintaining independence, reducing cancer-related fatigue, and improving overall psychophysical well-being.
• Integrated oncology rehabilitation: Dr. Turroni illustrated the importance of a multidisciplinary approach, in which physical therapy, rehabilitation, integrated oncology, and adapted physical activity can collaborate to develop truly personalized pathways.
• Personalized exercise programs: Mattia Pirani explained how physical activity should be tailored to the individual patient’s clinical condition, stage of the disease, ongoing treatments, residual capacity, and realistic goals.
• Safety and supervision: It was emphasized that physical exercise in cancer patients should not be improvised, but rather integrated into a controlled program, supervised by competent professionals and in dialogue with the treatment team.
• Possible application in neuro-oncology: despite all necessary precautions, the topic is also of particular interest for patients with brain tumors, for whom maintaining motor, cognitive, and functional abilities is a goal of great clinical and human value.

In the second part of the conference, the question-and-answer session clarified some practical aspects of interest to patients, caregivers, and family members. The meeting confirmed the importance of continuing to discuss not only pharmacological, surgical, and radiotherapy therapies, but also all the supportive interventions that can help patients better navigate their disease journey.

For those who were unable to attend or would like to watch Dr. Lorella Turroni and Mattia Pirani’s presentations again, the video recording is available below.

If you can’t view the video, please use the link: Video Recording.

In the hope that more and more people will become long-term survivors and that sooner or later we will be able to make high-grade gliomas curable, we wish you all the best!