Regular Exercise Before Cancer Diagnosis Slows Progression, Lowers Death Risk: Study

Exercise could be an important tool to slow cancer progression, prolong survival, and enhance quality of life in many ways.

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A recent study has found that regular exercise may slow cancer progression and reduce the risk of death. And while even small amounts of exercise made a significant difference in the study, the benefits were more substantial with larger amounts.

A considerable body of research suggests exercise can also promote a better quality of life. The underlying factors responsible for the benefits are multidimensional, boosting the body’s defense against pathogens and chronic conditions by several pathways.

More Exercise Equals More Protection

The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) on Jan. 7, followed more than 28,000 people with Stage 1 cancer from 2007 to 2022 to assess how exercise affects cancer. Stage 1 cancer is the earliest stage (after Stage 0), where the cancer hasn’t spread to other organs. Researchers characterized low physical activity as engaging in less than 60 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week for at least a year prior to cancer diagnosis. They defined moderate-to-high physical activity as engaging in a minimum of 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Results showed that the likelihood of cancer progression was 16 percent lower in the low-physical activity group and 27 percent lower in the moderate-to-high-physical activity group compared with those who did not engage in exercise. The risk of death was 33 percent lower in the low-physical activity group and 47 percent lower in the moderate-to-high-physical activity group.

“In a world where cancer continues to be a significant public health burden, the promotion of physical activity can yield important benefits regarding the progression of cancer as well as its prevention and management,” wrote the authors in their conclusion.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that all cancer survivors follow public health guidelines for regular exercise. These involve 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate physical activity per week or 1.25 to 2.5 hours of vigorous activity.

Comparison With Other Modifiable Risks

Sedentary behavior is a modifiable risk factor associated with a higher likelihood of certain cancers, an NCI fact sheet states. Because cancer has several other modifiable risk factors, it’s natural to ask how important the lack of exercise is in comparison with the others. In an email to The Epoch Times, Jon Patricios, co-author of the BJSM study, answered the question.

“Our findings suggest that regular physical activity has a slightly bigger positive influence than other modifiable risk factors of cancer, such as smoking, obesity, and poor diet,“ Patricios wrote. ”However, each of these factors would be influenced by specific types of cancer, such as smoking in lung cancer. Although other risk factors contribute to poorer outcomes, whatever cooccurring conditions or confounders are present, regular physical activity reduces the risk, and the more exercise above 60 minutes per week, the greater the protection.”

While the BJSM study focused on the role of exercise in cancer progression and survival, earlier research has investigated exercise’s influence on prevention and determined that it is a key risk factor for that as well. A review published in the British Medical Bulletin (BMB) cited multiple studies linking exercise to protection from the complications and risks linked to the onset of cancer, including deadly blood clots, weight gain, fatigue, joint pain, cognitive impairment, and depression. The authors noted the difficulty in associating physical activity with an anticancer effect because people who exercise regularly tend to have fewer risk factors for the disease. For example, they are less likely to smoke and be overweight, as well as more likely to eat more vegetables.

However, many comprehensive analyses worldwide have adjusted the findings demonstrating a decreased risk of cancer with exercise for other confounding lifestyle factors. This has convinced public health authorities that exercise is one of several “crucial” lifestyle factors known to lower the risk of several types of cancer developments, the authors of the BMB study wrote. These types include breast, bladder, colon, esophageal, uterine, and kidney cancers.

Underlying Mechanism

A review published in the journal Cancers looked at databases to determine the mechanisms by which exercise offers an anticancer benefit. Below are some highlights of the findings:

• Boosts immunity: Natural killer (NK) cells are the type of cells in the immune system most sensitive to the effects of exercise. They play a vital role in cancer prevention. In general, the body reaches peak recruitment of NK cells within 30 minutes of endurance exercise, and the levels stay high for up to three hours.
• Regulates hormones: Exercise is linked to reduced levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Having fewer of these hormones in the blood is associated with a reduced ability of breast cells to multiply, a suggested mechanism for how exercise may decrease the risk of breast cancer.
• Reduces abdominal fat: Abdominal obesity is linked with certain types of cancer associated with increased insulin resistance and high insulin levels. Exercise helps lower insulin resistance and insulin levels, leading to decreased abdominal fat and related cancer risk.
• Lowers inflammation: Chronic inflammation is involved in several stages of cancer development, including cancer growth and metastasis. Exercise appears to reduce inflammation independently or in combination with weight loss. It produces anti-inflammatory molecules, such as cytokines, and reduces body fat, which decreases inflammatory factors produced by fat tissue.

Additional Benefits for Cancer

Aside from the direct effects of exercise on cancer prevention, progression, and survival, research suggests it offers an array of indirect benefits that can increase quality of life. The review in the journal Cancers noted that these include improving depression, functionality, chronic pain, bone health, chemotherapy toxicity, sleep disturbances, and radiotherapy-related swallowing difficulty. It may also alleviate cancer-related cognitive impairment, tiredness, and wasting (cachexia).

Exercise is a vital yet often underutilized tool in cancer care, offering physical, emotional, and mental benefits, said Jennifer Habashy, a Colorado-based naturopathic doctor at Claya. In an email to The Epoch Times, she shared her perspective behind making exercise a part of a holistic approach to address the needs of people with the disease.

“For individuals undergoing treatment, gentle exercise can alleviate tiredness, improve mobility, and support the body’s natural healing processes. During post-treatment, tailored exercise regimens help rebuild strength and resilience,” Habashy wrote.

According to Habashy, movement supports the body’s innate ability to detoxify and repair by improving lymphatic circulation and reducing systemic stress. Exercise also provides mental health benefits as it releases endorphins that can alleviate the anxiety and depression often associated with a cancer diagnosis. Mind-body practices, such as tai chi, further enhance emotional resilience while fostering a sense of control.

“The goal is to create individualized exercise plans that meet each patient’s unique needs based on their treatment stage, energy levels, and physical capacity,” she stated. “Whether during active treatment, recovery, or long-term survivorship, exercise is not simply about regaining strength but about empowering patients to reclaim their vitality and optimize their health as part of a comprehensive wellness strategy.”