Exercise, fitness, and cancer outcomes

This chapter focuses on physical activity and exercise among cancer patients. Physical inactivity and poor fitness level are known to have multiple deleterious effects in healthy individuals, and there are data for similar effects among cancer patients. The prognostic value that poor baseline cardiorespiratory fitness/exercise and obesity have on the future risk of developing cancer is discussed. Additionally, there are extensive data on the impact of exercise on outcomes with several different types of cancer that include breast cancer, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung and gynecologic malignancies. We discuss the safety of exercise in this patient population and the beneficial impact that exercise imparts on this group of patients.

Duke Scholars

Author Stuart Dean Russell Medicine, Cardiology