Research shows that being physically fit can reduce the risk of cancer and help prevent the disease from returning. A study published last year found that colon cancer patients who took part in a three-year exercise program had a lower likelihood of recurrence and higher survival rates; this may be because exercise activates cancer-fighting immune cells. Dr. Christopher Booth, an oncologist at Queen’s University, said that if a drug provided this level of benefit, it would become standard treatment.
According to the MD Anderson Cancer Center, exercise lowers inflammation and insulin levels linked to some cancers. Karen Basen-Engquist of the Center noted that exercise during treatment alleviates fatigue, anxiety and depression, and improves quality of life.
Guidelines recommend that cancer patients do about 30 minutes of resistance and aerobic exercise per day. A study involving more than 1700 patients with large bowel disease found that walking improved quality of life. According to a 2021 study, up to 150 minutes of exercise per week before chemotherapy helps prevent treatment-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer patients. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise can also reduce the risk of lymphedema. The American Cancer Society expects more than two million Americans to be diagnosed with cancer this year.
Why it matters
These findings show that exercise is beginning to be regarded as a treatment component with a measurable effect in cancer care, rather than merely a general lifestyle recommendation. The fact that experts are comparing the available data with drugs suggests that non-drug interventions are increasingly being taken seriously in oncology; however, there is not yet a one-size-fits-all prescription for the best way to achieve this effect, at what dose and with which program. Given that millions of people are diagnosed with cancer every year, the impact of a low-cost and accessible method on recurrence and quality of life closely concerns both patients and health systems. On the other hand, how hospitals will integrate exercise programs into standard treatment workflows and to what extent patients experiencing treatment fatigue can adhere to these programs remain open questions.