Exercise & Cancer: Can Physical Fitness Reduce Mortality?

When it comes to cancer treatment and recovery, we often focus on medical interventions such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. However, emerging research highlights another powerful tool in the fight against cancer—exercise.

Numerous studies suggest that maintaining physical fitness can significantly impact both cancer incidence (the likelihood of developing cancer) and cancer mortality (the risk of dying from cancer). But how does exercise influence these outcomes? Let’s explore the science behind the connection between exercise, cancer survival, and overall mortality.

Does Physical Activity Reduce the Risk of Cancer?

A large-scale study followed healthy individuals over time to assess whether their physical activity levels were linked to cancer incidence and mortality.
The findings were striking:
-Higher levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing cancer.

-There was a dose-response relationship—meaning that the more physically active a person was, the lower their risk of cancer.

-Individuals with the highest physical activity levels had a significantly reduced mortality rate compared to those who were less active.

Exercise & Cancer Survival: What Happens After Diagnosis?

While we know that being active helps prevent cancer, what about physical fitness after a cancer diagnosis? Researchers investigated whether exercise and fitness levels could impact survival rates in cancer patients.

Key Findings:

1. Muscle Strength & Cancer Mortality:

Patients with higher muscle strength had a 30–42% reduced risk of mortality compared to those with lower strength.

Handgrip strength (a simple measure of muscle function) was a reliable predictor of survival.

(INSERT CAROUSEL DOES HAND GRIP PREDICT CANCER SURVIVAL***)

2. Cardiorespiratory Fitness & Cancer Mortality:

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (measured through tests like VO2 max or a 6-minute walking test) was associated with a 36–44% lower risk of mortality.

This trend was observed in both all-cause mortality (death from any cause) and cancer-specific mortality (death directly caused by cancer).

3. Physical Fitness Matters Even in Advanced Cancer:

Even in stage 3 and stage 4 cancers, patients with higher muscle strength had a 33% lower mortality risk.

This means that even those with metastatic cancer can benefit from maintaining strength and fitness.

These findings highlight that physical fitness is not just about prevention—it plays a crucial role in survival.

Source:
1.  Lecture 'Mechanisms Underlying the Benefits of Exercise in Cancer' by Francesco Bettariga.