POEM (Pediatric Oncology Exercise Manual). An exercise guideline for health care professionals, fitness instructors, educators and families

Due to improvements in cancer treatment, more than 75% of children diagnosed with cancer become survivors for at least 5 years. However, due to the intensity of treatments, children may develop negative side-effects that can affect their capacity to perform activities of daily living and have a negative impact on overall quality of life (QOL). There is increasing evidence that regular physical activity (PA) can improve the overall health status, functional capacity, and QOL of children with cancer. Our mandate must be to determine how best to deliver PA interventions, including education and actual PA practice, to increase awareness of the benefits and help children and their family's transition into a physically active lifestyle in cancer survivorship. Our main objective in this dissemination program is to promote an active lifestyle in pediatric cancer patients to enhance their overall QOL. To attain these objectives, we have two specific aims: A)Develop exercise guidelines that follow critical medical and fitness evidence and include resources and practical tips, to promote active living in the pediatric oncology population. We will create two versions of this "Pediatric Oncology Exercise Manual" (POEM) - one for families and one for professionals. B)Disseminate the POEM to relevant user groups through various venues, including mail outs of the manual and associated brochures, delivery of educational sessions, and widespread dissemination of a training package, so that other centres can offer trainings in their local area(s). This manual will answer the questions that survivors, parents, health care professionals, fitness professionals and educators have around the safety, recommendations, potential contraindications and resources available for exercise in pediatric oncology. More than 10,000 childhood cancer survivors are living in Canada today. Our hope is that this manual will provide benefits to all user groups, including the survivors.