New umbrella review underscores the physical and mental benefits of staying active during cancer care

A comprehensive new review has revealed that exercise — whether it be traditional, high-intensity, or mind-body forms like yoga — can significantly reduce many of the debilitating side effects experienced by individuals undergoing cancer treatment.

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the umbrella review examined data from 80 studies and 485 associations to explore the role of physical activity across a wide range of cancer types and therapies.

Researchers concluded that both aerobic and resistance exercises, as well as mind-body routines such as tai chi and yoga, can help ease physical symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and neuropathy. Exercise was also shown to improve mental health, with reductions in anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment.

Broad Benefits Across Cancer Types

The study included data from patients with a variety of cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, digestive system, and blood cancers. Breast cancer was the most frequently studied, accounting for over half of the analyzed associations.

Among the different types of exercises studied, mind-body activities accounted for 28.5% of the associations, followed by aerobic and resistance exercises at 9.9%, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) at 3.7%. Over 50% of the associations between exercise and symptom reduction were statistically significant, and nearly half were supported by moderate to high certainty evidence.

Aerobic activity and resistance training were particularly effective in combating cancer-related fatigue. Meanwhile, HIIT and tai chi were found to help manage pain. Aerobic exercises also showed promise in alleviating chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, especially among ovarian cancer patients.

Crucially, the review highlighted how exercise can influence biomarkers like C-reactive protein and insulin, improve physiological function, and even reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity — a form of heart damage caused by treatment.

Mental Health and Quality of Life

The psychological toll of cancer treatment is also well documented, and researchers found that exercise can significantly improve cognitive function, reduce anxiety, and ease symptoms of depression. Yoga, in particular, was associated with enhanced mental well-being.

Another notable finding was the role of pre-operative exercise in lowering the risk of post-surgical complications, underscoring the potential value of physical activity even before cancer treatment begins.

Experts Urge Oncologists to Prescribe Movement

While the study did not include new clinical trials, its findings reinforce the growing consensus among oncologists about the importance of integrating physical activity into cancer care plans.

“We want to encourage oncology professionals to counsel their patients on increasing physical activity as a means to improve their clinical outcomes, even when faced with serious diagnoses like cancer,” said Dr. Bhavana Pathak, Medical Director of Integrative Oncology at MemorialCare Cancer Institute, in an interview with Medical News Today. She was not involved in the review.

Dr. Pathak emphasized that while cancer therapies are often life-saving, they can also diminish quality of life. “This type of research speaks to the privilege and challenge both patients and physicians have — designing and choosing treatments that have an impact on the rest of their lives,” she added.

Dr. Milan Sheth, a hematologist-oncologist at MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute, also commented on the findings, noting that the paper “reinforces what we all suspected based on our own clinical experience — that exercise can significantly reduce various side effects associated with cancer and its treatment.”

Moving Toward a More Active Cancer Care Model

With cancer rates continuing to rise globally, and more patients surviving longer, the focus is increasingly shifting toward survivorship and quality of life. This review provides a robust scientific foundation for incorporating exercise as a standard component of cancer care.

The researchers call for oncologists and healthcare providers to encourage personalized and safe physical activity regimens for patients, considering their individual health status and treatment plans.

As Dr. Pathak noted, “The therapy we give — while it could keep you alive — can take away a life worth living, without the means to articulate, adapt, and engineer your life.” The integration of exercise could be a vital step toward ensuring patients not only live longer but live better.