Physical Exercise for Cancer Recovery and Survival

Physical exercise is one of the most evidence-supported complementary strategies available to people living with cancer. A considerable body of literature now exists that provides convincing evidence of the beneficial impact of exercise on disease and patient outcomes. The strongest evidence is seen in breast, colorectal and prostate cancer, where higher levels of physical activity after diagnosis have been linked with lower cancer-specific mortality and improved overall survival. This page explains what the research shows, and how different types of movement may support recovery before, during and after treatment.

How exercise benefits cancer patients.

•Prolongs Survival
•Reduces Cachexia
•Reduces Chemo-brain
•Boosts Immunity
•Improves quality of life
•General protection from radiation therapy
•Helps maintain a healthy weight
•Increases Blood Oxygen Level. 

Evidence Table

Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal cancers

Types of exercise

Source: Exercise in cancer patients: assistance levels and referral pathways—a position statement from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology

Aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, and various adaptive training practices improve cardiorespiratory fitness, reduce fatigue, and enhance cancer patient’s quality of life.

Resistance exercise training, which involves the use of weights or other forms of resistance to strengthen muscles like elastic bands, constitutes a key component of beneficial physical activity for cancer patients. They help to counteract muscle weakness and lean body mass loss, usually present in cancer patients as treatment-related side effects, improving functional capacity, and reducing fatigue.

Flexibility exercises, such as stretching and yoga, help maintain or improve range of motion and reduce muscle stiffness, which is particularly important for patients who may experience limited mobility due to treatment, including surgery.

Finally, balance exercises, e.g., tai chi and specific balance training, can help to improve stability and reduce the risk of falls; this exercise modality is of particular importance for cancer patients diagnosed with bone loss or metastases.

Moderate and Vigorous Activity

Examples of moderate and vigorous physical activities
Source: American cancer Society

Moderate physical activity is working at a level that increases your heart rate, makes you breathe harder, but you may or may not break a sweat. You’re able to carry on a conversation, but not able to sing your favorite song. Examples of moderate physical activity include things like:

• Walking, dancing, or leisure bicycling
• Ice or roller skating
• Playing volleyball, baseball, or doubles pickleball or tennis
• Mowing the lawn with a push mower
• Walking and lifting as part of the job (custodial work, farming, or auto repair)

Vigorous physical activity is when your heart rate is higher than moderate activity, and you’re breathing harder and faster. You can’t say more than a few words at a time without stopping to take a breath. Examples of vigorous intensity physical activity include:

• Running or fast bicycling
• Swimming or aerobic dancing
• Playing soccer, basketball, hockey, or singles pickleball or tennis
• Digging, carrying, and hauling
• Heavy manual labor (forestry or construction)

Recommended amount of activity

Adults should get 150-300 minutes per week of moderate intensity activity or 75-150 minutes per week of vigorous intensity activity, or an equal combination. This type and amount of activity can help you live longer and lower your risk of developing or dying from some cancers. Being even more active may lower your cancer risk even further.

Getting 150-300 minutes of activity each week may sound like a lot, but you can spread it out over the week. You can also mix moderate and vigorous activities. As a rule, 1 minute of vigorous activity counts the same as 2 minutes of moderate activity. For example, you could walk 30 to 60 minutes a day, 5 days a week, or run 25 to 50 minutes a day, 3 days a week. You can also combine activities in any way that works best for your lifestyle.

If you’re not active or are just starting to exercise, even small amounts of activity can improve your health, especially your heart. You can slowly increase how much and how hard you exercise over time.

Most children and young adults can safely be moderately and/or vigorously active without checking with their doctors. But men over 40, women over 50, and people with chronic illnesses or risk factors for heart disease should talk to their doctor before starting a vigorous activity program.

Children and teens muscle-strengthening activities should be moderately to vigorously active for at least 1 hour a day, every day. This should include at least 3 days a week.

Kids should have fun, age-appropriate, and varied activities, like sports and fitness at school, at home, and in the community. To help them stay active, schools should offer daily physical education and activity breaks. At home, screen time – like TV, video games, or phone or computer use – should be limited.

Other benefits of Physical exercise

Research (this systematic review and this study) indicates that physical activity may have beneficial effects for cancer survivorship – specifically, weight gain, quality of life, cancer recurrence or progression, and prognosis (likelihood of survival). Most of the evidence (study) for the potential benefits of physical activity in cancer survivors comes from people diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer.

Rebounding to Improve Lymph Flow

Source: Cancer Exercise Training Institute
When the lymph nodes have been removed or irradiated in cancer patients the pathways may become restricted, preventing lymph fluid from draining properly. This fluid buildup leads to swelling (lymphedema). Lymphedema can be a painful and disfiguring life-long affliction. Early detection and proper management are critical for quality of life.

The movement that is performed in rebounding is a complete cellular exercise that provides the stimulus for a free-flowing lymphatic system that will efficiently drain away the toxins. 

Walk barefoot for added benefits.

Grounding (or Earthing) is the act of walking barefoot on the beach or on grass. It results in free electrons being transferred from the earth into your body, and this grounding effect is one of the most potent antioxidants known to man.

A 2015 study found that grounding appears to

• improve sleep,
• reduce pain,
• reduce stress,
• speed wound healing

Before you exercise during treatment

Always talk with your doctor before you start an exercise program during or after cancer treatment. While exercise is proven to be safe during different types of cancer treatment, your ability to exercise and the types of exercises you can do depends on:

• The type of cancer you have
• The treatments being used
• The side effects that you are experiencing
• Your level of fitness
• Your other health problems

Source: cancer.net

Radical Remission: Surviving Cancer Against All Odds

Kelly Turner, PhD, a researcher who specializes in integrative oncology, studied one hundred cancer survivors and analysed over one thousand cases of people who experienced a “radical remission” from “incurable” cancer. She found that these people did not sit around waiting for a miracle, but made significant changes in their lives. Dr Kelley found ten healing factors common among all of the cases she studied. These ten key factors are:

1. Radically changing your diet
2. Taking control of your health
3. Following your intuition
4. Using herbs and supplements
5. Releasing suppressed emotions
6. Increasing positive emotions
7. Embracing social support
8. Deepening your spiritual connection
9. Having strong reasons for living
10. Daily Physical Exercise

See more at www.RadicalRemission.com.

Sources used:
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The website of the National Cancer Institute
The ASCO Post

Page last updated January 2026