ONE HUNDRED women, cancer patients, will row for a year, under strict medical supervision. Who will measure how much this sport, practiced regularly and adapted to the physical conditions of each of the participants, can lead to improving both the prognosis and the care experience. We are talking about the Catalina study, a scientific project supported by the Together Against Cancer Foundation and presented today in Rome.
The initiative has two premises: the first is that every year over 180,000 women in our country get cancer; the second is that practicing a sport at least three times a week improves the quality of life and, for some cancers, also reduces the risk of recurrence. “Sport can be considered a ‘drug’, a main actor in primary and tertiary cancer prevention, that is, to reduce the risk of relapses, and an adjuvant in cancer treatment”, explains Silvia Novello, president of WALCE – Women Against Lung Cancer in Europe and Professor of Oncology at the University of Turin, scientific director of the initiative: “This is now scientifically proven by numerous researches conducted in recent years. With Studio Catalina we want to offer a tangible contribution to research, with a study that evaluates whether it is possible to help women in their path of illness through a beautiful sport such as rowing. Some forms of cancer are on the rise, especially among women. New solutions must be found to support patients also in tertiary prevention and rehabilitation “.
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The benefits of sport
Sports practice can in fact alleviate some side effects of anti-tumor therapies, act on anxiety and on the perception of pain. It also promotes social inclusion thus combating loneliness and depression. Rowing, in particular, will help the participants in the recovery of arm and trunk movements, with advantages even in the case of severe neoplasms in patients who have maintained a good general state of health. In women operated on for breast cancer, for example, paddling has already been shown to help recovery and reduce the risk of lymphedema, the swelling of the arms sometimes linked to the removal of lymph nodes. “We know that lung cancer is on the rise due to the increase in smoking among women. And many patients are unable to stop even after being diagnosed ”, underlines Francesco Cognetti, President of Together against Cancer:“ Sport can always represent an ally of female well-being even for those who are facing cancer ”.
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Catalina studio
The study was co-designed by doctors and patients following the Human Centered Design methodology for the best involvement of patients, starting from the initiatives of the Italian Cancer Patients Association (Aimac) and from the experience of the Rosaremo association, which from 5 years offers women with breast cancer rowing routes. The sports program is based on Adapted Physical Activity (APA or AFA): exercises adjusted to the needs of the individual patient, by type, quantity, duration, frequency and intensity. A coach will accompany the participants for the duration of the initiative, with a personalized training plan. In case of specific needs, a physiatrist will also be available. The health conditions of women, including from a nutritional and psychological point of view, will be analyzed through an initial screening, and then reassessed at 3, 6 and 12 months. “Rowing is both an aerobic and anaerobic sport”, explains Attilio Parisi, Rector of the University of Rome Foro Italico: “It can be very demanding on a cardiovascular and respiratory level and therefore offers many benefits at a musculoskeletal level, setting in motion almost the entire body at the same time ”.
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The San Luigi Orbassano Hospital of Turin, the Humanitas Gavazzeni of Bergamo, the IOV of Padua, the National Cancer Institute “Regina Elena ”in Rome, the ASL Roma, the Perrino Hospital in Brindisi and the National Cancer Institute Pascale in Naples. As regards the performance of rowing activities, the Circolo dei Canottieri of Caprera of Turin, the Circolo Aniene and Deportivo of Rome, the Circolo Savoia of Naples, the Circolo dei Canottieri of Padua, the Italian Naval League section of Barletta were involved. The associations Rosaremo, Cuore di Donna, WALCE and others who want to join will help in the recruitment of patients.
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New routes for coaches
At the same time, CONI and the Italian Rowing Federation will develop training courses to support new figures who help cancer patients in the practice of a sporting activity. “Sport is increasingly important for our country system as it can have not only a social value but also a medical one. Therefore, a sedentary lifestyle, which is a still too widespread ‘disease’, must be countered at 360 degrees. And this must also happen in a very particular category of people such as cancer patients ”, comments Carlo Mornati, CONI Secretary General. “And it is necessary to discover how physical activity can interact with medicine, supporting it and improving people’s quality of life. We hope that this study will provide important answers for many women. At the same time it will help promote our sport to a greater number of people ”, adds Giuseppe Abbagnale, President of the Italian Rowing Federation. “The Aimac National Helpline receives many requests every day from patients and caregivers on whether or not to play sports during and after therapies”, concludes Francesca Traclò, Vice President of the Together Against Cancer Foundation: “We must also be able to respond through data from specific studies “.
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