on PinterestModerate to vigorous physical activity after a cancer diagnosis may help improve survival rates.
on PinterestModerate to vigorous physical activity after a cancer diagnosis may help improve survival rates. Olga Pankova/Getty Images
- Researchers say engaging in regular physical activity may help improve cancer survival.
- They add that even people who were inactive prior to their diagnosis may benefit from exercise.
- Experts advise starting slow with a new exercise regimen and working toward your goals.
- “Microwalks” are a simple way to begin and don’t require special equipment.
Exercise has numerous health benefits, with a large body of evidence suggesting that regular physical activity can help you live longer.
Now, a new large-scale study published on February 17 in JAMA Network Open found that participating in moderate to vigorous physical activity after a cancer diagnosis may help improve survival rates.
Several less commonly studied cancers were examined in the study, including bladder, endometrial, kidney, lung, oral cavity, ovarian, and rectal.
The authors also noted that even individuals who were inactive prior to their cancer diagnosis may find taking up exercise beneficial.
Moderate to vigorous exercise in cancer survivors
The study pooled data from six major long-term health studies, including the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort, the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II, and the Women’s Health Study.
Altogether, 17,141 adults were included who were survivors of one of the seven cancers studied.
Participants had completed surveys about their leisure-time physical activity both before and after their cancer diagnosis. On average, the data were collected about 2.8 years after their diagnosis, which allowed the researchers to avoid the period during treatment, when they were likely to be less active.
Physical activities were classified based on intensity, focusing on moderate to vigorous activities such as brisk walking, running, swimming, or cycling.
Activity was measured in metabolic equivalent task hours per week (MET-h/wk), a standard method for reporting energy expenditure.
To categorize activity levels, the study used current physical activity guidelines, which recommend 7.5 to 15 MET-h/wk (equivalent to 150 to 300 minutes of moderate exercise per week). Activity levels ranged from no physical activity to more than triple the recommended amount.
The researchers tracked cancer-related deaths over an average follow-up of nearly 11 years.
Statistical models were used that accounted for factors such as age, sex, race, smoking habits, alcohol use, cancer stage, and treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.
The analysis also considered changes in physical activity from before to after diagnosis to understand the impact of becoming active or inactive over time.
To minimize bias, the researchers excluded deaths occurring within two years of the post-diagnostic activity survey in sensitivity analyses.
Physical activity lowers cancer-related death risk
Upon analysis of the data, the researchers found that any amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity after cancer diagnosis was linked to a lower risk of death from cancer.
The effects were observed in survivors of bladder, endometrial, lung, and ovarian cancers — even when it was less than the recommended activity level.
Bladder cancer survivors who reported some physical activity had a 33% lower risk of cancer death compared
Узнайте больше о пересадка волос в клинике Rubenhair.
Получите бесплатную консультацию
Проконсультируйтесь с нашими специалистами о процедуре FUE, PRP-терапии или пересадке волос.
