Exercise could help cancer survivors live on after their diagnosis

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-02-18 03:00

Australia; International; VIC

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Survivors of bladder, lung, endometrial and ovarian cancer had a lower risk of dying over a ten year period if they were more physically active, according to Australian and international research. The research, which pooled together data from six studies, found that any amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity after diagnosis was linked to a lower risk of dying across cancers not often studied for their links to exercise. The authors say the findings suggest that it is important for health care professionals to promote physical activity for longevity and overall health among people living with and beyond cancer.

News release

From: JAMA

Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Cancer Mortality Among Cancer Survivors

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: In this analysis of 6 pooled cohorts, higher levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) after a cancer diagnosis were associated with lower risk of cancer mortality among people previously diagnosed with 1 of 7 cancers not commonly studied for their association with MVPA. These findings suggest that it is important for health care professionals to promote physical activity for longevity and overall health among people living with and beyond cancer.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The University of Melbourne, Cancer Council Victoria, American Cancer Society

Funder: The data harmonization and analysis for this project was funded by the American Cancer Society.

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