Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Recurrence and Mortality in Cancer Patients

Published April 2020 · Justin C. Brown & L. Anne Gilmore · Pennington Biomedical & LSU Health Sciences Center

In this comprehensive review, Brown and Gilmore explore how physical activity may directly influence cancer outcomes—specifically recurrence and mortality. Drawing on decades of observational data, they note that cancer survivors who are physically active after diagnosis experience:

  • A 45% reduced risk of cancer recurrence

  • A 37% reduction in cancer-related mortality

They identify two synergistic mechanisms:

  1. Indirect (Systemic) Effects – Exercise alters the tumor microenvironment by improving insulin sensitivity, reducing inflammation, and enhancing immune surveillance.

  2. Direct (Mechanical) Effects – The physical forces generated during aerobic exercise, like increased blood flow and vascular shear stress, may actually damage or destroy circulating tumor cells before they seed new metastases.

The result? A biological environment that’s less hospitable to cancer, both at the cellular and systemic level.

This research reframes exercise as more than just “supportive care.” It’s a biologically active therapy—with the potential to improve survival and reduce recurrence risk.

Key take-aways:

  • Chronic inflammation, elevated insulin, and poor immune function all fuel recurrence. Exercise mitigates each of these risk factors.

  • Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), which are linked to poor prognosis, appear to decrease in response to regular aerobic activity.

  • Exercise-induced blood flow may physically harm cancer cells in transit—acting almost like a form of internal mechanical therapy.


🏋️ What Should You Do?

If you’re a cancer survivor or currently in treatment, here are the latest guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine and The American Cancer Society

✅ 150–300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity/week

(brisk walking, cycling, rowing, or swimming)

✅ 2x/week resistance training

(Strength training using weights, bands, or machines) 

If you’re unsure where to begin, we recommend setting up your free first session with An Oncologic Athlete Doctor of Physical Therapy

The Oncologic Athlete

Science-Informed. Athlete-Minded. Stronger Than Cancer.