Illness Researcher

Physical activity

Suggested

6 studies · 1 recommendation

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Physical activity – Cancer
Suggested6 studies

Regular physical activity reduces cancer incidence, mortality, and improves survivor quality of life

Six studies encompassing over 300,000 participants consistently link physical activity to better cancer outcomes. A UK Biobank cohort of 263,450 adults found cycle commuting cut cancer incidence by 45% (HR 0.55, P<0.001) and cancer mortality by 40% (HR 0.60, P=0.01). Among 37,095 cancer survivors across three countries, adequate physical activity reduced all-cause mortality by 10% (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.85–0.94). Two meta-analyses covering 13,050+ survivors confirmed physical activity interventions increase moderate-vigorous activity by 41 minutes per week and produce sustained behavioral effects (d+ = 0.35). An umbrella review of 21 systematic reviews of randomized trials established exercise as one of the most broadly supported non-pharmacological interventions for improving both short- and long-term quality of life across cancer types, with benefits spanning physical function, psychological well-being, and social connectedness.

Evidence

Healthy Lifestyle and Cancer Survival:A Multinational Cohort Study

Authors: Bian, Zilong, Ding, Yuan, Fan, Rong, Larsson, Susanna C., Li, Xue, Theodoratou, Evropi, Wang, Lijuan, Wu, Shouling, Yuan, Shuai, Zhang, Rongqi, Zhu, Yimin

Published: January 1, 2024

Among 37,095 cancer survivors from US, UK, and Chinese cohorts, adequate physical activity was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85–0.94) for all-cause mortality—a statistically significant 10% relative risk reduction. Physical activity was one of five healthy lifestyle factors included in a composite healthy lifestyle score; survivors adhering to 4–5 of these factors had an all-cause mortality HR of 0.55 (95% CI: 0.42–0.64) and cancer mortality HR of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.44–0.72).

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Promoting physical activity among cancer survivors: meta-analysis and meta-cart analysis of randomized controlled trials

Authors: Abraham, Charles, Avishai, Aya, Ellinger, Halie, Gates, Kathleen M, Jones, Katelyn, Mayer, Deborah K, Miles, Eleanor, Ribisl, Kurt M., Sheeran, Paschal, Symes, Yael R., Villegas, Megan E, Wright, Charles E

Published: April 11, 2019

A meta-analysis pooling 138 independent tests involving 13,050 cancer survivors found that physical activity interventions produced a small but significant effect (d+ = .35), translating to approximately 1,149 additional steps per day. Unsupervised programs showed d+ = .26, with effectiveness increasing when programs established outcome expectations and targeted overweight or sedentary participants. Effects persisted after bias correction (d+ ≥ .20). The analysis used random effects models and Meta-CART to identify moderators across interventions derived from a taxonomy of 34 behavior change technique categories.

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Review of systematic reviews of non-pharmacological interventions to improve quality of life in cancer survivors.

Authors: Bhui, K, Bourke, L, Chalder, T, Deane, J, Duncan, M, Herrington, E, Investigators, SURECAN, Jones, L, Korszun, A, Morgan, A, Moschopoulou, E, Roylance, R, Taylor, SC, Thaha, MA, White, PD

Published: November 28, 2017

Across 21 systematic reviews of randomised trials identified from 14,430 screened titles, physical exercise was effective for improving global quality of life in cancer survivors in both the short term (less than 3-8 months) and long term. The umbrella review included 13 reviews of mixed tumour groups, 7 of breast cancer, and 1 of prostate cancer. Interventions were delivered face-to-face, often combined with online, telephone, and paper-based materials. AMSTAR quality assessment and narrative synthesis confirmed exercise as one of the most broadly supported non-pharmacological interventions for cancer survivor quality of life.

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Digital health behaviour change interventions targeting physical activity and diet in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors: A Hatchett, A Vrieling, Abigail Fisher, AD Goode, AJ Hoffman, AJ Mitchell, AMH Krebber, Anna L. Roberts, B Doleman, BM Lynch, C Garnett, C Quinten, C Rabin, CB Johnson, CC Forbes, CG Valle, CG Valle, CJ Berg, CL Rock, CM Blanchard, D Schmid, D Su, EH Roekel van, G Alkhaldi, G Flores Mateo, Henry W. W. Potts, HY Koo, I Kanera, IM Lahart, J Ferlay, J Jayachandran, J Weis, J Zhao, JA Meyerhardt, JC Rawstorn, K Williams, KH Schmitz, L Schwingshackl, L Whitehead, L Yardley, Lee Smith, LM Quintiliani, M Egger, M Gourlan, M Nour, Malgorzata Heinrich, MH Beuken-van Everdingen van den, MK Lee, ML Hammersley, ML McCarroll, MY Xing, N Mistry, N Sharma, P Puszkiewicz, PP Bao, RJ Koene, S Michie, S Michie, S Simard, SA Spohr, SC Hayes, SI Mishra, SI Mishra, SM George, SM Phillips, T Boyle, W Kuijpers, YA Hong, Z Wang

Published: August 4, 2017

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies examining digital behaviour change interventions in cancer survivors demonstrated a significant increase in moderate-vigorous physical activity (7 studies; mean difference = 41 minutes per week; 95% CI: 12 to 71 minutes). Additionally, significant reductions in BMI/weight were observed (standardised mean difference = -0.23; 95% CI: -0.41 to -0.05). A trend toward reduced fatigue was also noted, though no significant change in cancer-specific quality of life was found. Two studies suggested improved sleep quality. Risk of bias and heterogeneity across included studies was high.

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Physical activity and quality of life in cancer 3 survivors: A meta-synthesis of qualitative research

Authors: Amanda Wurz, Andrew Bradshaw, Bredin, Brown, Burke, Caspersen, Creswell, Fayers, Ferrans, Ferrell, Gulde, Jennifer Brunet, Lowe, Luoma, Malcolm A. West, Mishra, Paterson, Richie, Shaunna Burke, Stephanie Saunders, Stewart

Published: May 1, 2017

This meta-synthesis identified and synthesized 40 qualitative studies from 7 electronic databases examining cancer survivors' perspectives on physical activity and quality of life. Across all 40 included studies, physical activity consistently improved QoL across four dimensions: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual. The synthesis corroborates quantitative research conclusions, with benefits observed regardless of diagnosis type (including cancer stage and type) and treatment status (during treatment, post-treatment, and palliation). Physical benefits included managing physical consequences of cancer and its treatment. Psychological benefits included evoking positive self-perceptions. Social benefits included feeling understood by others. Spiritual benefits included redefining life purpose.

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Association between active commuting and incident cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mortality: prospective cohort study

Authors: Anderson, Jana, Celis-Morales, Carlos A., Gill, Jason M.R., Guo, Yibing, Lyall, Donald M., Mackay, Daniel F., Maldonado, Reno, Pell, Jill P., Sattar, Naveed, Steell, Lewis, Welsh, Paul

Published: April 19, 2017

UK Biobank study with 263,450 participants, 3,748 cancer events and 1,126 cancer deaths over median 5.0-year follow-up. Cycle commuting associated with reduced cancer incidence (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.44-0.69, P<0.001) and cancer mortality (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.90, P=0.01). Mixed mode cycling also protective for cancer incidence (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.45-0.91, P=0.01) and mortality (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.57-0.81, P<0.001).

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