Physical Activity in Cancer

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Original Editor - Samara Paull

Top Contributors - Vidya Acharya, Wendy Walker, Adam Vallely Farrell, Kapil Narale, Tony Lowe, Kim Jackson, Khloud Shreif, George Prudden, Simisola Ajeyalemi, Rucha Gadgil, Nicole Hills, Lucinda hampton, Giulia Neculaes, Admin, Michelle Lee and Tarina van der Stockt  

Introduction

Decrease in physical fitness has been reported in both patients and survivors of childhood and adult cancers. This decline in physical activity is secondary to the side effects of both the disease and its treatment.1 Cancer survivors have an increased risk for negative health and psychosocial effects following treatment. Beyond people with cancer, insufficient physical activity is the leading risk factors of death worldwide.

By addressing physical activity and stress reduction techniques patients can control some of these modifiable risk factors.2 Furthermore, such adverse effects are aggravated by physical inactivity (such as reduced bone mineral density, loss of muscle mass, increased BMI and impaired motor performance) therefore more emphasis is being placed on integrating exercise and activity both during and after treatment.3

With the increasing number of people diagnosed with cancer and surviving it, quality of life outcomes are increasing in importance with numerous studies supporting physical activity and its positive impact. In one systematic review, exercise and physical activity had a clinically relevant positive impact on health related quality of life both during and after medical intervention in people with cancer.4

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Resources

The Motivate2Move website, created by Wales Deanery, has a very useful section on Physical Activity effects in Cancer.

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References

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