For many years, doctors have encouraged people to stay active to protect their heart and overall health.
Regular movement such as walking, cycling, or swimming helps control weight, improves mood, and lowers the risk of many diseases.
Now, growing evidence suggests that physical activity may also help people live longer after a cancer diagnosis.
A large international study has found that staying active is linked to better survival for people with several types of cancer, including bladder, kidney, lung, and others.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation have improved survival, but many patients still face long-term health challenges after treatment.
Fatigue, weakness, and emotional stress can make it difficult for survivors to return to normal life. Because of this, researchers have been searching for simple ways to improve recovery and long-term health. Exercise is now seen as one of the most promising tools.
In this study, scientists combined data from six large health studies involving more than 17,000 people who had survived one of seven cancers. These included bladder, endometrial, kidney, lung, oral, ovarian, and rectal cancers.
The researchers examined how much physical activity participants did before they were diagnosed and again about three years afterward. They also considered other important factors such as age, sex, smoking history, and how advanced the cancer was, so they could better understand the specific role of exercise.
The survivors were then followed for an average of 11 years. During this time, researchers tracked how activity levels were related to the risk of dying from cancer. The results showed clear benefits. People who stayed active had a lower risk of death compared with those who remained inactive.
For example, survivors of oral cancer who exercised had a much lower risk of dying, while lung cancer survivors also saw strong improvements in survival. Patients with endometrial and bladder cancers benefited as well.
One of the most hopeful findings was that it was not too late to start exercising after diagnosis. Even people who had been inactive before their cancer still gained significant benefits if they began moving afterward.
Lung and rectal cancer survivors who started regular exercise after diagnosis had a much lower risk of death than those who stayed inactive. This suggests that the body can still respond positively to physical activity even after serious illness.
Another encouraging result was that patients did not need to exercise intensely to see benefits. For some cancers, even doing less than the commonly recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week was better than doing nothing.
Gentle activities such as walking, stretching, or light cycling may still support recovery and improve health. However, for certain cancers, doing more activity led to even greater improvements in survival.
Doctors believe exercise may help in several ways. Physical activity improves blood circulation, strengthens the immune system, reduces inflammation, and helps control weight and blood sugar levels.
It can also improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression, which are common after cancer treatment. Together, these effects may help the body recover and better resist disease progression.
In reviewing the study findings, the research provides strong evidence that staying active can play an important role in life after cancer. It highlights that exercise should be seen as part of cancer care, not just general wellness advice.
At the same time, the study does not mean that exercise alone can replace medical treatment. Patients should always follow their doctor’s guidance and choose activities that match their physical condition. Future research will need to determine the best types and amounts of exercise for different cancers and stages of recovery.
Overall, this study sends a powerful message of hope. Even small amounts of movement can make a meaningful difference, and it is never too late to start. Encouraging cancer survivors to stay active could improve both the length and quality of their lives, helping them regain strength and confidence after treatment.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
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