For many years, doctors recommended moderate physical activity to patients with oncological diagnoses. However, it was previously considered only a means to reduce the side effects of treatment and improve overall quality of life. A massive new study proves that exercise is capable of significantly more: it can directly prevent cancer recurrence.
These findings mark a turning point for exercise oncology — a rapidly growing medical field. Of course, no one claims that physical activity should replace conventional therapies. However, mounting evidence suggests that it must be integrated into standard treatment protocols alongside surgery and chemotherapy.
"Traditionally, the primary pillars of cancer treatment were surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, while everything else was seen as mere supportive care," notes Sharlene Gill, an oncologist at the University of British Columbia. "Exercise has shifted from a category of simple care to the status of a powerful tool capable of changing the ultimate survival outcome."
The biological mechanisms: How exercise helps fight cancer
Cancer cells are exceptionally skilled at camouflaging themselves to evade detection by the immune system. However, physical activity triggers a cascade of biological processes in the body that create a highly inhospitable environment for tumors.
According to researchers, exercise strengthens the body's natural surveillance system. It sharply boosts the activity of T-cells and NK cells (natural killers) that hunt down and destroy abnormal structures. Furthermore, physical exertion alters the tumor microenvironment itself, breaking down the biological barriers the tumor uses to protect itself from the immune system.
Regular training also combats chronic inflammation — another fuel that allows oncological processes to thrive. Physical activity lowers the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as IL-6 and TNF-α). Less inflammation means fewer opportunities for a tumor to progress.
Exercise brings a separate benefit in the battle against hormone-dependent cancers (such as breast cancer). Aerobic exercises lower blood estrogen levels and help reduce adipose tissue, which is the primary source of this hormone in postmenopausal women. Exercise also regulates insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and improves insulin sensitivity, blocking the metabolic states that promote oncological development.
Unanswered questions in exercise oncology research
Despite clear optimism, researchers urge caution, as many important questions remain unanswered. The foremost among them is: what exact type of exercise delivers the greatest benefit? Most current trials focus on aerobic activities (running, swimming, brisk walking), which effectively prevent metastasis. However, the impact of strength training (resistance exercise) remains poorly studied.
Debates also continue regarding the ideal volume of exercise. Participants in the aforementioned CHALLENGE study worked out for 150 minutes per week at moderate intensity. However, scientists cannot yet say with certainty whether smaller doses of activity would yield the same effect.
📋 Key Takeaways and Recommendations
- Target dose: The American Society of Clinical Oncology already recommends that patients complete at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week.
- Simplicity of action: You don't need to buy expensive gym memberships — regular daily brisk walking or cycling is enough to trigger these protective mechanisms.
- Accessible programs: Specialized oncology fitness centers (such as the one at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York) design customized workout plans starting from the very first day of diagnosis.
The future of cancer treatment and exercise rehabilitation
Today, there are over 2,000 physical rehabilitation programs for cancer patients in the United States, and the European Society for Medical Oncology has officially added exercise to its guidelines for treating localized colon cancer. The main obstacle remains financial accessibility, as standard health insurance often fails to cover these services for patients.
However, doctors emphasize that patients should not wait for bureaucratic systems to catch up with science. Anyone can take control of this aspect of their recovery today. The medical community's goal for the coming years is to ensure that a personalized "exercise prescription" becomes as routine and mandatory a part of cancer care as cardiac rehabilitation is after a heart attack.
Source: This material is adapted based on the scientific publication "How exercise helps the body fight cancer," featured on the National Geographic website.
