In a eye opening development, a new national survey in Australia has found that the number of specialised cancer rehabilitation programmes in the  hascountry more than doubled in the last decade, but this increase is still insufficient to satisfy the needs of a growing survivor community. According to La Trobe University research published in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, the number of oncology rehab programmes nationwide has climbed from 31 in 2015 to 76 in 2024. Despite this achievement, only one in every 65 Australian cancer survivors has the opportunity to register in a programme each year. 

This disparity persists despite professional guidelines from the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA), which have advocated exercise as best-practice cancer management since 2018. Dr Amy Dennett, the lead researcher and physiotherapist, underlines that exercise is one of the most effective tools for survivors to manage fatigue, mood, and physical function, hence increasing overall quality of life. 

"Mounting evidence shows that exercise is key to addressing the physical and psychological challenges faced by many cancer survivors," according to Dr Dennett. "In spite of this, poor access... is a barrier across all levels of the healthcare system." According to a survey of 173 hospitals and centres, 44% of organisations mention a lack of long-term funding as a major challenge. 

The report also identifies the factors driving the program's expansion, such as increased demand among cancer survivors attending general rehab (48%) and oncologist advocacy (44%). The usual program runs three times a week for eleven weeks and includes exercise, nutrition instruction, and fatigue management. A major move towards telehealth (45% video, 53% phone) has increased access for regional and rural patients who confront transportation challenges. 

The background emphasises the importance: with over 500,000 five-year cancer survivors in Australia, cancer is being treated as a chronic disease. However, rehabilitation services fall significantly behind other areas. "There are nearly 400 cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services in Australia – five times the number of oncology rehabilitation programs," the doctor said. 

The research team advocates for immediate investment in money, training, and strong referral mechanisms to make rehabilitation a standard component of cancer therapy. Without institutional reform, the vast disparity between guideline recommendations and patient reality will persist, leaving hundreds of thousands of survivors without the assistance they require to reclaim their lives after treatment.