治療癌症
及運動

Exercise and cancer

Statistics showed the five most common cancers in Hong Kong in order are colorectal cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and liver cancer.

The average annual incidence of breast cancer increased by 2.5% and prostate cancer increased by 1.9%1.

(Calculated as "age-standard ratio" over the past ten years)

1. 2016 Hong Kong Cancer Registry 香港癌症資料統計中心

New concept in cancer treatment management

Structured exercise is the new immune boosting remedy

In the past, people being treated for a chronic illness (an illness a person may live with for a long time, like cancer or diabetes) were often told by their doctor to rest and reduce their physical activity. This is good advice if movement causes pain, rapid heart rate, or shortness of breath. But newer research has shown that exercise is not only safe and possible during cancer treatment, but it can improve how well you function physically and your quality of life2.

2. American cancer association :  Physical Activity and the Cancer
Cramp F, Daniel J. Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(2).
Rock CL, Doyle C, Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62:242-274.

Expert opinion

Improving body indicators

People with cancer should exercise at least 5 times per week, 30 to 60 minutes each of moderate to vigorous intensity3.

3.National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Guidelines Survivorship Version 2.2014. Fort Washington (PA): National Comprehensive Cancer Network; 2014. 72 p.
Rock CL, Doyle C, Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Nutrition and physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62(4):243–74.

Exercise has been shown to improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, body composition, fatigue, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, happiness, and several quality of life factors in cancer survivors. At least 20 studies of people with breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian cancer have suggested that physically active cancer survivors have a lower risk of cancer recurrence and improved survival compared with those who are inactive2.

2. American cancer association :  Physical Activity and the Cancer
Cramp F, Daniel J. Exercise for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;(2).
Rock CL, Doyle C, Demark-Wahnefried W, et al. Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2012;62:242-274.

Further evidence of exercise’s beneficial effects on cancers

Colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer and bone marrow cancer

Exercise significantly reduces the risk of colon, breast, endometrial, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, kidney cancer, and myeloid leukemia. In addition, physical activity was strongly associated with a decreased risk of multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, as well as cancers of the head and neck, rectum, bladder, and lung (in current and former smokers) 4.

4. Moore SC, Lee I, Weiderpass E, et al. Association of Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Risk of 26 Types of Cancer in 1.44 Million Adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2016;176(6):816–825.

Exercise can reduce cancer fatigue by 40% to 50%

Exercise should be maintained during cancer treatment. Of course, this does not mean that you should participate in a marathon or mountain climbing. Moderate aerobic exercise, combined with light weight training, can enhance physical well-being and stimulate recovery.
Research has demonstrated that those who exercised regularly had 40% to 50% less fatigue, the primary complaint during treatment5.

5. National Comprehensive Cancer Network-Exercising During Cancer Treatment

Late stage cancer patients: significantly benefits physical function

Exercise specifically as an additional therapy for patients undergoing cancer treatment has been well-studied and associated with many benefits. In one analysis of 61 clinical trials of women with all stages of breast cancer, those who underwent an exercise program during treatment had significantly improved quality of life, fitness, energy, and strength, as well as significantly less anxiety, depression, and lower body mass index and waist circumference compared with the regular care groups. In another major analysis of 28 trials involving over 1,000 participants with advanced cancers (including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, lung, breast, gastrointestinal and prostate), an exercise program during treatment was associated with significantly improved physical function, energy levels, weight/BMI, psychosocial function, sleep quality, and overall quality of life6.

6. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Safety, Feasibility, and Effect of Exercise in Women With Stage II+ Breast Cancer. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018 Dec;99(12):2621-2636

Individual cancers and exercise (breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer)

Clinical data proves that exercise is good for different cancers

01

Breast cancer

In a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, breast cancer survivors who were the most physically active had a 40% lower risk of death from breast cancer than those who were the least physically active7.

02

Colon cancer

Research strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe during cancer treatment, but it can also improve physical functioning and many aspects of quality of life8.
Two recent studies have shown that exercise has a positive effect on colon cancer survival and reduces recurrence. The study, which included 832 patients with stage III colon cancer over a 3-year span, found a significant reduction in cancer recurrence and overall mortality. Patients who engaged in at least 18 MET-hours per week of physical activity showed a better outcome, with 47% having significant improvement in disease-free survival9.

03

Liver cancer

Study analyzed 152 patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) between 2013 and 2016. Skeletal muscle index was significantly increased in the cancer rehabilitation (CR) group compared with control. The survival rate was significantly higher in the CR group than in the control group. CR was associated with prolonged survival in patients with HCC who underwent TACE. Patients with cancer are recommended to maintain physical activity even during cancer treatment10.
Participants were patients with liver cancer who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in a university hospital; patients in the experimental group received exercise therapy.It was found that the back pain score of the exercise group was lower, first dose analgesics were delayed. In addition, there were no significant differences in bleeding complications in the exercise group11.

04

Prostate cancer

Limited evidence from a few epidemiologic studies suggests that physical activity after a prostate cancer diagnosis is associated with a 33% lower risk of death from prostate cancer and a 45% lower risk of death from any cause12. The standard treatment for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer is Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT produces diverse side effects, including loss of libido, changes in body composition (increase abdominal fat), reduced muscle mass, and muscle tone. Analysis of numerous research publications showed that aerobic and/or resistance training improve a patient's physical condition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, physical function, body composition, and fatigue. In addition epidemiological and in vitro studies have shown that exercise might decrease prostate cancer development13.

7. Spei ME, Samoli E, Bravi F, et al. Physical activity in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis on overall and breast cancer survival. Breast 2019; 44:144-152.
8. Brown JK, Byers T, Doyle C, et al.: Nutrition and physical activity during and after cancer treatment: an American Cancer Society guide for informed choices.CA Cancer J Clin 2003, 53:268–291.
9. Meyerhardt JA, Heseltine D, Niedzwiecki D, et al.: Impact of physical activity on cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: findings from CALGB 89803.J Clin Oncol 2006, 24:3535–3541.
10. Hashida, R., Kawaguchi, T., Koya, S., Hirota, K., Goshima, N., Yoshiyama, T. ... Torimura, T. (2020). Impact of cancer rehabilitation on the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncology Letters, 19, 2355-2367.
11. Effects of Exercise on Relief of tow Back Pain in Patients on Absolute Bed Rest after Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization (TAE) Ko, Eun-Ju & Chae, Young-Ran & Lee, Dong-Suk. (2008). Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing. 15.
12. Patel AV, Friedenreich CM, Moore SC, et al. American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cancer prevention and control. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2019; 51(11):2391-2402.
13. Exercise and prostate cancer: From basic science to clinical applications. Prostate. 2018 Jun;78(9):639-645.

Follow Us on Facebook

成為我們的大家庭