Cancer Care Program

Comprehensive information about cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and care for Nova Scotians.

There is clear evidence that physical activity is a safe and effective way to:

  • reduce cancer risk
  • mitigate disease and treatment-related side effects in both cancer patients and survivors.

Resources

Physical activity can help you feel better, regardless of where you are in your cancer journey. The pamphlets and information below can help you learn more about the benefits of being physically active during and following your cancer treatment.

After a cancer diagnosis, being active is one of the most important things you can do to feel better throughout treatment and recovery. Discuss physical activity and exercise with your care provider(s).

References

1. Phillips SM, Alfano CM, Perna FM, Glasgow RE. Accelerating translation of physical activity and cancer survivorship research into practice: Recommendations for a more integrated and collaborative approach. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2014; 23(5): 687-699.

2. Schmitz KH, Courneya KS, Matthews CE, Demark-Wahnefried W, Galvao DA, Pinto BM, et al. American College of Sports Medicine roundtable on exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010; 42: 1409-1426.

3. Warburton DER, Bredin SSD (2017) Health benefits of physical activity: a systematic review of current systematic reviews. Curr Opin Cardiol 32:541–556. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCO.0000000000000437

4. Hills AP, Street SJ, Byrne NM (2015) Physical activity and health: “what is old is new again”. Adv Food Nutr Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.afnr.2015.06.001

5. Pedersen BK, Saltin B (2015) Exercise as medicine - evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scand J Med Sci Sports 25:1–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/sms.12581

6.Garcia DO, Thomson CA (2014) Physical activity and cancer survivorship. In: Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, vol 29, pp 768–779. https://doi.org/10.1177/0884533614551969

7. Sabiston CM, Brunet J (2012) Reviewing the benefits of physical activity during cancer survivorship. AmJ LifestyleMed 6:167–177