Cancer patients can reduce risk of death by improving muscle strength and cardio fitness, reveals study

New research shows a significant reduced risk of death among patients with advanced cancer stages and those with lung and digestive cancers

Cancer patients can reduce their risk of death by improving their muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels, a recent meta-analysis study has found.

Results showed that cancer patients with high muscle strength or CRF levels had a significant reduction in their risk of death by 31-46% when compared with those cancer patients with low physical fitness levels.

The study, which examined 42 observational studies that included 47,000 patients diagnosed with cancer, showed an 8-46% reduced risk of death in patients with advanced cancer stages. This was considered particularly significant because cancer patients in advanced stages frequently suffer from decreased muscle strength and mass, reduced CRF, and heightened fatigue, which in turn, leads to a poorer quality of life and increased risk of death.

And the study found a 19-41% reduced risk of death in patients with lung and digestive cancers specifically, which are among the leading causes of cancer deaths. 

Commenting on the findings, Dr Chris Bishop, the Interim Head of Department for the London Sport Institute at Middlesex University who co-authored the paper, said: 

“Whilst the underlying reasons are multi-faceted and complex, one of the reasons for this reduced risk of mortality in cancer patients, may be because of healthier people’s bodies being better at the repair and healing process that takes place naturally after exercise. When we exercise, our bodies learn to repair damaged muscles as a natural by-product of the recovery process, and this cumulative process of  becoming more efficient at repairing tissue is probably beneficial when fighting a chronic disease like cancer."

Dr Bishop cautioned that the results may vary for different forms of cancer but this could also in part be due to less studies being conducted in a particular type of cancer.

“The underlying message from this analysis is that people are less likely to die from cancer, if they lead a fitter, healthier and stronger life."

Dr Chris Bishop

These findings show the importance of fitness measures and tailored programmes of exercise for cancer patients, say researchers.

The paper - entitled: Association of muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in patients diagnosed with cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis - has been peer-reviewed and published in the British Journal of Sport’s Medicine. 

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