Cancer Council Victoria recognises the key role GPs and health professionals play in discussing diet, exercise and lifestyle advice with patients. Below are resources we hope will be of use to you, your practice and your patients.
Cancer Council Victoria recognises the key role GPs and health professionals play in discussing diet, exercise and lifestyle advice with patients. Below are resources we hope will be of use to you, your practice and your patients.
Training
In-person training: Talking to patients about health and weight
Want to build your capability to have effective conversations about weight and healthy lifestyles to support patients?
Delivered in-person by experienced and expert facilitators, this one-day accredited training will increase your confidence to speak with patients about weight management.
Select health professionals can put this training towards their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.
Learn more
Online training: talking to patients about health and weight
A 1-hour online course for health professionals on how to effectively engage in conversations about health and weight with patients, as part of routine care. This education is a CPD Activity under the RACGP CPD Program. Registration fee: $45. Certification: Printable certificate.
The learning objectives upon completion are:
- Identify the personal and environmental factors that lead to weight gain
- Summarise the most recent scientific evidence of the link between weight gain and cancer risk
- Choose motivating and non-stigmatising language in conversations about weight with patients
- Routinely apply best practice methods to assess patient weight and support patient to achieve a healthy weight
- Recall the resources available to help you provide healthy lifestyle advice and support to patients
Register here
Cancer Council fact sheets
Information about healthy eating
Information about physical activity
For patients who have experienced cancer
The Get Support section of the Cancer Council Victoria website offers plenty of information and support for patients and their families when they need it most. Here you will find information about the range of services and supports that are available to you and your patients that are designed to assist them in managing their cancer experience, from diagnosis, through to treatment, survivorship or end of life care.
Contact a Cancer Nurse
For information and support, people affected by cancer and the health professionals who support them are encouraged to contact Cancer Council on 13 11 20 or online.
Nutrition
Information about nutrition for people living with cancer is available through the website and a downloadable Nutrition and cancer booklet.
Exercise
Information about exercise for people living with cancer is available through the website and a downloadable Exercise for people living with cancer booklet.
Information about eating disorders
If you suspect a patient is experiencing disordered eating you can get more support and information at Eating Disorders Victoria
Support line: 1300 550 236
Fact sheet on fad diets and disordered eating
Training for GPs on how to recognise disordered eating is also available through Eating Disorders Victoria. This training is clear and simple and will increase awareness of all eating disorders. It is free for RACGP members and CPD points apply.
Obesity and cancer references and publications
Lauby-Secretan B, et al. 2016, Special report: Body fatness and Cancer – Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. The New England Journal of Medicine, 375.8: 794–8.
The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research. 2018. Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington.
Whiteman David C, et al. 2015. Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to modifiable factors: summary and conclusions. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. 39.5: 477–84.
Font-Burgada J, et al. 2015. Obesity and cancer – the oil that feeds the flame. Cell metabolism. 23.1: 48 –62.
Golemis E, et al. 2018. Molecular mechanisms of the preventable causes of cancer in the United States. Genes and development. 32: 868 –902.
Hopkins B, et al. 2016. Obesity and cancer mechanisms: cancer metabolism. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 34.35: 4277 –84.
National Cancer Institute. 2017. Obesity and Cancer. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet#q3
Kyrgiou M, et al. 2017. Adiposity and cancer at major anatomical sites: umbrella review of the literature. BMJ. 356.477: 1 –9.
Van Kruijsdijk RM, et al. 2009. Obesity and cancer: the role of dysfunctional adipose tissue. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 18.10 : 2569–78.
Lyengar N, et al. 2016. Obesity and cancer mechanisms: tumor microenvironment and inflammation. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 34.35: 4270 –4.
Travis RC, et al. 2003. Oestrogen exposure and breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Research.5: 239–47.
Gunter MJ, et al. 2009. Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. J Natl Cancer Inst.101:48–60.
Bhaskaran K, et al. 2014. Body-mass index and risk of 22 specific cancers: a population-based cohort study of 5.24 million UK adults. The Lancet. 384: 755 –65.
Cancer Research UK. 2018. Obesity, weight and cancer. [ONLINE] Available at: https:// www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/obesity-weight-and-cancer.