Exercise ‘Wonder Drug’ for Cancer

A new British study brings hope for millions of cancer sufferers and survivors: Exercise is a "wonder drug" that reduces the side effects of cancer treatments and may even keep the disease from returning. “If physical exercise were a drug, it would be hitting the headlines,” oncologist Jane Maher said in a press briefing.

Maher is chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support, a U.K.-based charity which reviewed more than 60 cancer studies. It found that staying active has positive effects on depression, anxiety, and weight gain during treatment, and can reduce the risk of dying as much as 50 percent. Exercise can also lower the risk of getting another cancer.

The advice is contrary to what many doctors have traditionally recommended. In the past, patients undergoing cancer treatment were told to “take it easy” and get as much rest as possible. That’s wrong, say Macmillan researchers, who found that a sedentary lifestyle weakens muscles and reduces energy: “The evidence review shows that physical exercise does not increase fatigue during treatment, and can in fact boost energy after treatment.

“Any amount of exercise is better than none at all,” they wrote, but they encouraged patients to aim for two-and-a-half hours — 150 minutes — of moderately intense physical exercise each week.

“It doesn’t need to be too strenuous,” they pointed out, adding that brisk walking, cycling, and even mopping floors and mowing the lawn all count.

“Also, doing recommended levels of physical activity may reduce the chance of dying from the disease,” they wrote. “It may also help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.” In addition, exercise can lower the odds of a cancer patient developing heart disease and osteoporosis.

How much can exercise help? Previous studies have shown that six hours of exercise each week can slash the risk of dying from bowel cancer by half. According to a study published in JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association, walking just three to five hours a week reduced the risk of dying from breast cancer by up to 40 percent in women who had been diagnosed with the disease. And a study by the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of California-San Francisco found that men who engaged in vigorous activity for at least three hours each week reduced their risk of dying from prostate cancer by 61 percent.

“Cancer patients would be shocked if they knew just how much of a benefit physical activity could have on their recovery and long-term health, in some cases reducing their chances of having to go through the grueling ordeal of treatment all over again,” said Ciaran Devane, CEO of Macmillan Cancer Support.

What types of exercise are important? These types of exercises can help you get into shape after cancer treatment and build an active lifestyle that can protect you from cancer recurring:

• Flexibility or stretching exercises. Stretching helps you maintain your flexibility and gentle stretching can be done early in your recovery.

• Aerobic exercises. Brisk walking, jogging, and swimming improve cardiac fitness as well as help keep weight under control.

• Resistance training. Lifting weights builds muscles and is especially important for cancer survivors with high BMIs (high fat-to-lean ratio).

As a general rule of thumb for all adults, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity — or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity — each week. They also recommend two sessions (no specific time suggested) of strength training twice a week.