Physical activity boosts recovery and long-term health of cancer survivors

By: Lee Harvey

Doctors fail to inform cancer patients about benefits of physical activity as charity calls for exercise to be 'prescribed'.

A report published by Macmillan Cancer Support says 1.6 million British cancer survivors could be at greater risk of long-term health problems because they aren't physically active enough.

Macmillan's Move More report is a comprehensive evidence review of over 60 studies, a survey of 400 health professionals, and studied findings from pilot schemes which are commissioning and running physical activity services for cancer patients.

The report reveals new evidence showing just how important physical activity is to the recovery and long term health of cancer patients.

According to the Move More report, doing the recommended levels of physical activity can reduce a prostate cancer patient's risk of dying from the disease by up to 30% compared to patients doing less than an hour of exercise per week.

In addition, the report states significant amounts of physical activity can reduce a bowel cancer patient's risk of recurrence and of dying from the disease.



Evidence shows that bowel cancer patients doing around six hours of physical activity a week could help reduce their risk of cancer coming back by around 50%, compared to those doing less than an hour a week.

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After treatment, all cancer patients can reduce their risk of suffering from the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment - including fatigue, depression, osteoporosis and heart disease - by doing recommended levels of physical activity.

Making patients aware
Despite strong emerging evidence that being physically active can dramatically improve cancer patients' recovery and long-term health, a survey of 400 health professionals conducted by Macmillan Cancer Support and ICM in May and June 2011 found that many were not aware of this information. In fact, the majority of health professionals were not talking to their patients about it.

The survey found over half (56%) of GPs, practice nurses, oncologists and cancer nurses do not speak to their patients about the possible benefits of physical activity, or, at best, they speak to just a few of them.

Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support said: "The evidence in our report, Move More, shows just how important physical activity is to the recovery process of cancer. Yet very little attention to its benefits is given by health professionals or by those commissioning health services. It is essential that physical activity services are available and 'prescribed' to all cancer patients.

"Cancer patients would be shocked if they knew just how much of a benefit physical activity could have on their recovery and long-term health, in some cases reducing their chances of having to go through the gruelling ordeal of treatment all over again.

"It doesn't need to be anything too strenuous, doing the gardening, going for a brisk walk or a swim, all count. Health professionals can refer patients to a variety of services such as physiotherapy, specialist exercise programmes at leisure centres or walking groups."

Outdated approach
Traditionally cancer patients were told to "rest up" after their cancer treatment and to "take it easy", yet Move More shows that this approach is outdated and could actually put cancer patients at risk.

Jane Maher, chief medical officer of Macmillan Cancer Support and leading clinical oncologist said: "The advice that I would have previously given to one of my patients would have been to 'take it easy'. This has now changed significantly because of the recognition that if physical exercise were a drug, it would be hitting the headlines.


"There really needs to be a cultural change, so that health professionals see physical activity as an integral part of cancer aftercare, not just an optional add-on."