Dr. Kerry Courneya, Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer is one of the world's leading researchers in the field. Seen here accepting his award from CAPO on April 25.
When the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology met for its annual conference in Vancouver last month, its members honoured one of Canada's most influential behavioural medicine scientists in the field. Dr. Kerry Courneya received the association's 2012 Award for Research Excellence for his significant contribution to psychosocial oncology research in Canada.
And while you might think that Courneya, a Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity and Cancer, with a distinguished career spanning more than two decades studded with accolades would be blasé about another such award - he's anything but.
"I think to be recognized by your peers is the most important and the most gratifying kind of honour that you can receive," he says. "For your colleagues to take a look at your research program and give you this type of honour and award is not only very flattering but a great source of pride."
Since he began his career in 1992, Courneya has done just that: carved out an important and understudied niche in the field of psychosocial oncology focused on the role of exercise and cancer care. In the process he's become one of the most oft-cited and sought-after experts in a field that plays a vital role in the care of cancer patients and survivors - dealing with the health and quality of life issues that come with a cancer diagnosis.
"This is why CAPO's work is so important. This academic society is focused on research and education - getting the research into practice, working to change policy, making sure that psychosocial oncology services are evidence-based and a key part of cancer care for patients."
A cancer diagnosis, says Courneya, "can be a great source of anxiety, and, depending on what the prognosis is, issues related to depression and stress can manifest. There are also potential positive psychosocial outcomes such as psychological growth that CAPO would study."
In 2010 the Canadian Cancer Society notes that approximately 175,000 people in Canada were diagnosed with cancer and that over 75,000 died from the disease. Today, says Courneya, thanks to the persistence and voice of academic bodies like CAPO, "Most cancer treatment centres in Canada have a department of psychosocial oncology or psychosocial resources to help people deal with the emotional struggles they may have with cancer, beyond the physical and functional ones."
Courneya's own research is multi-disciplinary, looking at impacts of exercise on the psychosocial and behavioural aspects of cancer. "Certainly we look at things like disease outcomes and biomarkers, but the psychosocial component is a big part of my research program. I am very interested in the role of exercise for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and stress; and also how it may have positive effects on self-esteem, happiness, body image and other psychosocial outcomes," he says.
"Now we know there's a large body of literature on the role of exercise in influencing these types of psychosocial outcomes in other populations. So my research program has really tried to bring that research to the psychosocial oncology area, and to look at these types of outcomes in cancer patients and cancer survivors. We also include the psychosocial component for all the motivational aspects related to exercise, things like motivation for exercise and attitudes towards exercise is a very large psychosocial component in my research program. Ultimately, we take a holistic approach to studying exercise in cancer patients and are just as concerned about the psychosocial outcomes of exercise as we are with the functional and disease outcomes."
"I am very pleased for Kerry in his winning the award from the Canadian Association for Psychosocial Oncology," says dean Kerry Mummery. "Kerry is truly a world leader in the area, and has made significant contributions to the area with his research program in physical activity and cancer. He continues to contribute to the area through research and, importantly, through the development of highly skilled researchers in our graduate program who will be the next generation of scientists in the area."
Dr. Courneya received the 2012 Canadian Association of Psychological Oncology Award of Research Excellence on April 25.