Clinical Oncology Society of Australia position statement on exercise in cancer care

To the Editor: We write to express our concerns regarding the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) position statement on exercise in cancer care published in the MJA1 and promoted in media outlets as a “world‐first” position statement that calls for exercise to be prescribed for all patients with cancer.2 The guideline replicates those first published in Australia in 20093 and in the United States in 20104 as well as by other organisations,5 and are the same as public health recommendations for healthy adults.6 Given the array of cancers, disease stages and treatments and their combinations, it is somewhat surprising that the same general guideline is being prescribed for all patients with cancer and is not differentiated from that for healthy adults — especially, given patient health and comorbidity status and the challenges that a cancer diagnosis and treatment entail. Research in exercise oncology has progressed over the past 9 years, and more targeted and tailored guidelines reflecting the developing evidence base are now required for implementation in this population.