A recent study has highlighted the potential benefits of physical activity in improving cancer prognosis and reducing the risk of death. Conducted on participants from the health promotion program Vitality, linked to Discovery Health Medical Scheme, the research underscores how exercise can play a pivotal role in cancer outcomes. The findings suggest that moderate to high physical activity in the year preceding a cancer diagnosis could significantly enhance survival chances and hinder cancer progression.
Researchers focused on individuals with stage 1 cancer who had been part of Vitality for at least a year before diagnosis. The study found that those with moderate to high levels of physical activity had an 80% probability of not facing cancer advancement or death, compared to a 74% probability among those with no physical activity. Additionally, the study revealed that even minimal exercise—around 60 minutes weekly—could reduce cancer progression likelihood by 27% and death by 47%.
However, the study also noted that a significant 60% of participants were classified as having no physical activity. This classification raised concerns about the accuracy of activity measurement, as it did not account for physically active occupations or incidental activities not tracked by wearable devices.
“There were several drawbacks to the study: It only collected exercise data from before diagnosis. We have no idea what these patients did afterwards […] While the measured exercise was likely accurate, it didn’t capture all that people do. So, for example, patients who had physically active jobs but didn’t wear watches that capture movement would have been inaccurately classified as doing no physical activity. The data support this since 60% were classified as having no physical activity. Even walking to your fridge or car or job entails some activity, so this study would have vastly underestimated amounts of activity.”
The study population primarily comprised individuals with access to private health insurance in South Africa, predominantly from white and Asian descent groups. This demographic focus limits the generalizability of the findings across the broader South African population. Furthermore, due to the insurance database's original purpose, certain variables such as body mass index (BMI), completion of cancer therapies, and lifestyle factors like smoking were not comprehensively analyzed.
“The population was from an insurance database […] The database was developed for insurance, not research. So other variables that could explain associations between exercise and prognosis (completion of cancer therapies, weight, smoking, etc) were largely not available,” – McTiernan
Despite these limitations, the study's insights align with global health recommendations. Encouragingly, participants with moderate to high physical activity levels showed a 95% survival rate compared to a 91% rate for inactive individuals. This supports the notion that physical activity could be a critical component in cancer treatment protocols.
“this study confirms the benefits of even relatively small amounts of physical activity but we should encourage adherence to the WHO [World Health Organization] guidelines of 300 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise for all of its well-described benefits.”
The researchers advocate for integrating exercise into medical advice for cancer patients. They emphasize that accessible interventions like regular physical activity are increasingly vital as cancer diagnoses rise and early detection improves.
“With cancers being diagnosed earlier and an increasing incidence, accessible interventions that may positively influence prognosis are more relevant than ever. Knowing that as little as 60 minutes of regular weekly exercise may reduce the likelihood of cancer progression by 27% and death by 47%, should encourage all doctors to use exercise as medicine.” – McTiernan
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