Aerobic exercise could help improve outlook after cancer treatment

• Structured exercise after cancer treatment may be linked to reduced risk of cancer recurrence and mortality, according to a recent study.
• Aerobic exercise, either alone or combined with resistance training, showed the strongest benefits for overall survival.
• Experts recommend working with a cancer care team to create a suitable exercise plan based on individual circumstances.

Cancer recurrence varies significantly depending on the type of cancer. While there is no certain way to prevent recurrence — when cancer returns after treatment — researchers have investigated potential ways to minimize the risk where possible.

Physical activity is already recognized as a benefit for people with cancer. The American Cancer Society notes that it may offer benefits before, during, and after cancer treatment.

Now, a study published in September in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that structured exercise — physical activity that is intentional and part of a routine — may be associated with longer survival and a lower risk of cancer recurrence after treatment.

The benefits appeared to be strongest in people who had early stage cancer and in those who performed aerobic exercise.