Competence center: Supporting athletes after a cancer diagnosis

The "German Competence Centre for Competitive Sports and Cancer" (KLiK) was founded at the Centre for Integrated Oncology at the University Hospital of Cologne (CIO) in cooperation with the German Sport University, offering specialized advice and support to competitive athletes with cancer.

In an interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, Dr. Nora Zoth explains what close cooperation between the disciplines can achieve.

Dr. Zoth, what does the combined treatment of oncologists, physicians and sports and training scientists in high-performance sport look like?

Zoth: Especially when competitive athletes develop cancer, their existing network of sports physicians and exercise therapists is often not prepared for this situation. At KLiK, we are geared towards the special needs of this group. First and foremost, we advise athletes on whether and how a return to competitive sport is possible, of course with special consideration of the type of sport, cancer and medical therapy. The health and safety of the athletes are always at the forefront.

Our therapeutic contribution is also that, with 20 years of experience in oncological training and exercise therapy (OTT), we are very good at managing the side effects of therapies. Intensive training, for example, would be counterproductive in the case of pronounced fatigue. Polyneuropathies are also common side effects because chemotherapy can damage the nerve endings in the hands and feet. Sensory disturbances can then restrict sporting movements, and we address this with targeted exercise therapy.

What are the special aspects of training and exercise therapy or training management for high-performance athletes during cancer treatment?

Zoth: In the care of these patients, two different areas intertwine when it comes to training management. On the one hand, OTT is used to prevent and reduce relevant medical side effects of oncological therapies. The positive effects of OTT have been scientifically proven, and we can now offer evidence-based therapy programs for individual side effect profiles. On the other hand, there is the individual training of the athletes.

Together with the medical specialists from various disciplines and the athlete's personal trainer and support staff, we determine the training concepts during and after oncological therapy. For example, we brought in cardiologists to closely monitor an 800-metre runner who was receiving chemotherapy that could potentially damage his heart. This enabled us to reassure the athlete that he could carry out his sport-specific, extensive training in parallel with the therapy.

So, does the concept lead to personalized medicine for the respective patients and the preservation of performance?

Zoth: Yes, exactly. Oncological therapy concepts are always individually adapted to the needs of the patient. For competitive athletes who have focused their lives on sport up to now, the diagnosis adds a further stress situation. We try to alleviate this by maintaining the athlete’s performance as much as possible.

Each individual athlete must be considered individually according to their medical and sporting history as well as their personal needs. A specialist conference can meet these requirements. We bring together oncologists, doctors, physiotherapists, trainers and psychologists in so-called expert boards. If it is possible to continue playing competitive sport, we work together with the coaches to facilitate the best possible reintegration into competitive sport.

What are the advantages of the competence center now and in the future?

Zoth: As a competence center, we have the combined expertise in Cologne with the University Hospital as a top oncological center of the German Sport University Cologne with decades of experience in the care of competitive athletes as well as specialized oncological training and exercise therapy to provide athletes with optimal support in medical and oncological as well as sports therapy and sports medicine issues.

Our services are not only aimed at top athletes, but also at ambitious recreational athletes who are increasingly asking themselves about the "sporting afterwards" due to improved treatment options and the associated increased chances of survival. We can offer various types of performance diagnostics and then tailor training accordingly.

The German Competence Center for Competitive Sports and Cancer operates nationwide and is also available to athletes outside of Cologne to provide advice and support.

In addition, further educational events, such as on early detection measures for the athlete’s environment, also play an important role. On the one hand, we want to reduce fears and uncertainty and, on the other, raise awareness of the fact that you are not lost in sport per se, even if you have cancer.