Exercise helps cancer patients cope with treatment, research suggests

People who stay physically active during cancer treatment often fare better than those who do not, research suggests, according to KVF. They may experience fewer side effects from both treatment and the disease and maintain a higher level of functioning, says Høgni H. Andersen, a physiotherapist with a PhD in cancer and exercise.

Andersen is deputy head of the Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy at the National Hospital and a teaching lecturer at the University’s Department of Health and Nursing Sciences. In KVF’s radio programme Heilsuhornið, he discusses the role of exercise in cancer prevention, during active illness and after treatment.

He stressed that patients do not need to exercise intensely. The most important thing is to avoid being inactive, he said, adding that even a short daily walk can make a difference. Research also indicates that regular physical activity can reduce the risk of developing cancer.

For people who have completed cancer treatment, exercise may help reduce fatigue, improve quality of life and lower the risk of the disease returning, Andersen said.