As part of the study, data from six major long-term projects were combined. Researchers assessed the level of physical activity of participants both before the diagnosis and approximately 2.8 years after it. The observation of patients lasted about 11 years, during which physical activity was compared with mortality rates. Factors such as age, gender, smoking, and disease stage were taken into account, allowing for a more accurate determination of the impact of physical activity.
The results showed that those who led an active lifestyle had a significantly lower risk of death for a number of cancers: by 61% for oral cavity cancer, by 44% for lung cancer, by 38% for endometrial cancer, and by 33% for bladder cancer. Positive dynamics were also observed in people who, despite a sedentary lifestyle before the diagnosis, began to engage in physical activity afterward: the risk of death for lung cancer patients decreased by 42%, and for colorectal cancer patients, it decreased by 49%.
The authors of the study noted that even moderate physical activity, less than 150 minutes per week, can be more beneficial than complete inactivity. Furthermore, increasing the level of physical activity above the recommended standards further reduced the risk of death for certain patient groups. The researchers urged healthcare professionals to actively promote physical activity as an important aspect of treatment and rehabilitation for people with cancer.
