Exercise Interventions in Children with Cancer

Background Childhood cancer is one of the top five causes of children’s death in Europe. More specifically, for boys it is responsible for the 18.5% of the boys' deaths of ages 10-14 years old and for the 10.7% of the boys ‘deaths of ages 15-19years old, and for girls it is responsible for the 21.7% of girls’ deaths of ages 10-14 years old and for the 16.1% of girls’ deaths of ages 15-19 years old. More than 35,000 new cases of cancer are emerging every year. Objectives Exercise Interventions in Children with Cancer (EXITCAN) aims to improve both efficiency of treatment and quality of life of children with cancer, based on (i) special exercises to improve fitness and overall well-being of children (ii) wellness programs for children who have survived of or who have cancer, through alternative methods (iii) participation of close social environment to strengthen their socialization (iv) training of health professionals and people who are taking care of them. Implementation The implementation methodology included the following activities:A1: Management, Preparatory and Coordination Activities A2: Need analysis for the recent evidenceA3. Electronic Handbook/Manual of ExerciseA4: On line platformA5: Pilot training of exercise professionals, nutritionists, health professionals,A6: Dissemination activitiesA6.1: Events for networking operatorsA6.2 Interventional workshops A6.3: Events for networking operators A6.4: Final conferences in partner countries Achievements A need analysis for recent evidence regarding the effect of physical activity in the improvement of physical condition of children during and after childhood cancer treatment. Electronic handbook/manual https://exitcan.eu/ of exercise was developed including the recruitment and involvement of key actors/informants; hospital staff and sports teachers, in all partners’ languages.