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For health professionals

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

Body fatness and cancer: Viewpoint of the IARC working group

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.

Diet, Nutrition , Physcial Actvity and Cancer: a Global Perspective. A Summary of the Third Expert Report

The World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research. 2018. Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective. Washington. 

Cancers in Australia in 2010 attributable to modifiable factors: summary and conclusions

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.

Obesity and cancer – the oil that feeds the flame

Font-Burgada J, et al. 2015. Obesity and cancer – the oil that feeds the flame. Cell metabolism. 23.1: 48 62.

Molecular mechanisms of the preventable causes of cancer

Golemis E, et al. 2018. Molecular mechanisms of the preventable causes of cancer in the United States. Genes and development. 32: 868 902.

Obesity and cancer mechanisms: cancer metabolism

Hopkins B, et al. 2016. Obesity and cancer mechanisms: cancer metabolism. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 34.35: 4277 84.

Obesity and Cancer information from the National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute. 2017. Obesity and Cancer. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet#q3

Adiposity and Cancer at Major Anatomical Sites: Umbrella Review of the Literature

Kyrgiou M, et al. 2017. Adiposity and cancer at major anatomical sites: umbrella review of the literature. BMJ. 356.477: 1 9.

Obesity and Cancer: The Role of Dysfunctional Adipose Tissue

Van Kruijsdijk RM, et al. 2009. Obesity and cancer: the role of dysfunctional adipose tissue. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 18.10 : 2569–78.

Obesity and Cancer Mechanisms: Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation

Lyengar N, et al. 2016. Obesity and cancer mechanisms: tumor microenvironment and inflammation. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 34.35: 4270 4.

Oestrogen Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk

Travis RC, et al. 2003. Oestrogen exposure and breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Research.5:  239–47.

Insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factor-1, and Risk of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women

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.

Body-Mass Index and Risk of 22 Specific Cancers

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.

Obesity, Weight and Cancer

Cancer Research UK. 2018. Obesity, weight and cancer. [ONLINE] Available at: https:// www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/obesity-weight-and-cancer.