Physical activity is increasingly recognized not only for its general health benefits but also for its significant role in cancer prevention and improving the quality of life for cancer survivors. The impact of exercise extends across various stages of the cancer journey, from reducing the risk of developing certain cancers to mitigating treatment side effects and enhancing long-term outcomes. This specialized focus on cancer highlights another critical
dimension of why regular physical activity is a cornerstone of public health recommendations.
Exercise and Cancer Mortality Rates
A systematic review that evaluated 45 studies examining the relationship between physical activity and cancer survival rates provided compelling evidence. According to this review, there was consistent evidence from 27 observational studies indicating that physical activity is associated with reduced all-cause mortality, as well as breast cancer-specific and colon cancer-specific mortality. This suggests that for certain types of cancer, engaging in physical activity can directly improve survival outcomes. However, the review also noted that there is currently insufficient evidence regarding the association between physical activity and mortality for survivors of other cancers, indicating an area for further research.
Enhancing Quality of Life for Cancer Survivors
Beyond survival rates, evidence suggests that exercise can positively affect the quality of life in cancer survivors. This includes improvements in factors such as anxiety, self-esteem, and emotional well-being, which are crucial for recovery and adaptation after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. For individuals undergoing active cancer treatment, exercise may also have beneficial effects on health-related quality of life, specifically by reducing fatigue and improving physical functioning. These positive effects are likely to be more pronounced with higher intensity exercise, suggesting that the level of activity can influence the degree of benefit.
Exercise may also contribute to a reduction of cancer-related fatigue in survivors of breast cancer, a common and debilitating side effect of treatment. Although scientific evidence on the subject is limited, people with cancer cachexia, a wasting syndrome, are encouraged to engage in physical exercise. However, due to various factors, some individuals with cancer cachexia have a limited capacity for physical exercise, and compliance with prescribed exercise is often low in this population, leading to high drop-out rates in clinical trials. For adults with hematological malignancies, there is low-quality evidence suggesting that aerobic physical exercises may have little to no difference in mortality, quality of life, or physical functioning. However, these exercises may result in a slight reduction in depression and fatigue, offering some relief for these patients. The overall picture underscores exercise as a valuable, though sometimes challenging, intervention in cancer care.
