More Evidence Links Physical Activity with Improved Cancer Survival
ATLANTA — A recent analysis led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers shows engaging in leisure time moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after a cancer diagnosis improves survival for people with several cancer types, including bladder, breast, colon, endometrial, kidney, lung, oral, prostate, rectal, and respiratory cancer.
This is the first longitudinal study of the relationships between postdiagnosis physical activity and overall mortality in bladder and oral cavity cancer survivors and is the largest study to quantify associations within survivors of endometrial, kidney, and lung cancer. The findings weare published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
“For decades, it’s been known that consistent exercise can help people live healthier lives,” said Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, senior principal scientist, Population Science Research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. “Our findings bring more critical evidence that being physically active after a cancer diagnosis can bring a meaningful impact on your likelihood of survival.”
Researchers pooled data from six U.S.-based studies, including 90,844 cancer survivors, an average of 67 years of age at diagnosis, among whom 45,477 died during an average of 10.9 years of follow-up. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking status, alcohol use, cancer treatment, and stage.
Study results showed that compared to no MVPA, engaging in recommended amounts of MVPA after a cancer diagnosis was related to better overall survival in participants with a history of one of 10 cancer types: oral, endometrial, lung, rectal, respiratory, bladder, kidney, prostate, colon, and breast. The recommended amount of MVPA is equivalent to two and a half to five hours of brisk walking per week.
“The effects of cancer treatment can wear you down physically and mentally,” Rees-Punia said. “This can make exercise feel like a daunting task, but doing some exercise is better than doing none. Finding an exercise that you enjoy or exercising with a friend can make it more approachable.”