Current landscape and support for practical initiation of oncological prehabilitation translatable to thyroid cancer: A position paper
S. Jack,
E. Andritsch,
A. Joaquim,
M.C. Kreissl,
L. Locati,
R.T. Netea-Maier,
J.L. Reverter,
R. Elisei
Affiliations
S. Jack
Clinical Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
E. Andritsch
Clinical Department of Oncology, University Medical Centre of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerpl. 2, 8036, Graz, Austria
A. Joaquim
ONCOMOVE®, Associação de Investigação de Cuidados de Suporte em Oncologia (AICSO), 4410-406, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
M.C. Kreissl
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke University, Universitatsplätz 2, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
L. Locati
Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, S. da Nuova, 65, 27100, Pavia, PV, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS ICS, Maugeri, Via Salvatore Maugeri, 10, 27100 Pavia PV, Italy
R.T. Netea-Maier
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 28, 6525, GA, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
J.L. Reverter
Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Placa Civica, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
R. Elisei
Endocrine Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti, 43, 56126, Pisa, PI, Italy; Corresponding author. Endocrine Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Via Paradisa, 2; 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Despite a growing body of evidence for the effectiveness of prehabilitation, the uptake of prehabilitation in Europe remains low. Contributing factors range from limited awareness and understanding of prehabilitation to a lack of supporting infrastructure and reimbursement challenges. In this position paper, the authors propose a new comprehensive definition of prehabilitation and identify differentiated thyroid cancer as a type of cancer particularly well-suited for prehabilitation. To support clinicians with the implementation of prehabilitation programs in their clinics, the authors discuss the following practical solutions: a) find the most appropriate prehabilitation program for each patient; b) raise awareness among peers; c) develop evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of prehabilitation; d) expand the interdisciplinary team; e) expand your network and make use of existing assets; f) utilize learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic.
