Regular Physical Activity — Even Initiated Postdiagnosis — Improves Survival for Cancer Patients

WHAT WAS LEARNED

Study results showed hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality (0.61) and cancer-specific mortality (0.64) were decreased by 39% and 36%, respectively, in habitually inactive patients, compared with those who were habitually active. Interestingly, results also showed that it is never too late to benefit from adopting an exercise program. Previously inactive patients who began regular exercise after their cancer diagnosis experienced a 28% decrease in all-cause mortality (HR = 0.72) and cancer-specific mortality (HR = 0.72) compared with patients who remained inactive.

“Some of the more detailed observations made in the study were somewhat surprising, and offer good news for all cancer patients. Specifically, that patients who start exercising after diagnosis experienced a significant survival advantage suggests that it is never too late to make healthy lifestyle changes that may affect the survival trajectory,” Dr Cannioto told Oncology Nurse Advisor.

Patients who engaged in 3 to 4 sessions of exercise per week experienced the greatest survival advantages. However, the fact that even only 1 to 2 days of exercise per week resulted in a significant survival advantage is good news for patients who may be overwhelmed by recommendations of at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity daily.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSES

The strongest link between exercise and reduced risk of death was seen across 8 cancer types: breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, bladder, endometrial, esophageal, and skin. Rather surprisingly, the strong association between physical activity and a decreased risk of death held across all the patients regardless of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, or stage of cancer. Overall, the findings suggest that physical activity may be an independent, modifiable predictor of survival for patients with cancer.

Few studies have investigated the link between regular physical activity and cancer outcomes across multiple disease sites. This large study is one of the first to examine the beneficial effect of regular physical activity before and after a cancer diagnosis across many different cancer types.

These observations solidify the clinical and public health importance of the message that some regular activity is better than inactivity. Furthermore, the study findings suggest the potential value of implementing exercise programs into the supportive care continuum for cancer. These findings also may help better inform targeted intervention trials designed to improve clinical outcomes among patients with a wide range of malignancies, note the authors.

Reference

Cannioto RK, Dighe S, Mahoney MC, et al. Habitual recreational physical activity is associated with significantly improved survival in cancer patients: evidence from the Roswell Park Data Bank and BioRepository [published online November 28, 2018]. Cancer Causes Control. doi: 10.1007/s10552-018-1101-5