- Major new research establishes exercise as a critical survival tool for cancer patients, showing that regular moderate-to-vigorous activity after a diagnosis significantly lowers the risk of dying from the disease.
- The study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed data from over 17,000 survivors of seven cancers, finding survival benefits for bladder, endometrial, lung, ovarian, oral and rectal cancers.
- The survival benefits are substantial and dose-dependent: for example, meeting activity guidelines was linked to a 60% lower risk of death for endometrial cancer and up to a 62% lower risk for lung cancer.
- A key finding is that it's never too late to start; even patients who were inactive before diagnosis gained major survival benefits by becoming active afterward.
- The research argues for making exercise a standard part of cancer care, with experts recommending starting with small "microwalks" and building toward 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
