International perspectives on exercise oncology: Trends, challenges, & opportunities

Cancer treatment is no longer defined only by medicine and surgery. Around the world, exercise is increasingly recognized as a vital component of cancer care, with growing evidence demonstrating its impact on wellbeing, and long-term survivorship. Exercise oncology is emerging as a field capable of transforming the way cancer patients are supported before, during, and after treatment.

Bringing together personal experience, clinical practice, and collaboration, this session will explore current trends, challenges, and opportunities in exercise oncology through diverse perspectives and real-world applications. The discussion will highlight the lived experience of a childhood cancer survivor and para-athlete, illustrating the meaningful role exercise can play throughout the cancer journey and its lasting influence on quality of life.

The session will also present the collaborative fellowship program developed between Regeneration & Progress | Sports Excellence and Yorkshire Cancer Research, emphasizing the value of international partnerships in advancing exercise oncology. Through the exchange of professional expertise and clinical knowledge, the collaboration has contributed to innovative approaches on integrating exercise into cancer care pathways.

The discussion will address the future of exercise oncology, including the need for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, greater accessibility of exercise programs particularly for populations with a higher cancer burden, and the integration of evidence-based exercise interventions into cancer treatment, prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and survivorship care. By sharing experiences, expertise, and aspirations, the session aims to inspire dialogue on how exercise can become an essential and accessible part of oncology care.