Cancer Colon Cancer Prevention Is It Safe to Exercise With Cancer? By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, RD twitter linkedin Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RDN, is an award-winning registered dietitian and epidemiologist, as well as an expert in cancer prevention and management. Learn about our editorial process Suzanne Dixon, MPH, RD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on November 18, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on February 07, 2020 Print Is it safe to exercise with cancer? This is an important question. More and more studies are showing that exercise is an important part of healthy survivorship after cancer. But should you get started right away, during treatment? Or should you wait until after treatment is finished? You need to know whether it's safe to exercise with cancer before you get started. Not only is it safe to exercise with cancer, health experts say it's a must. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) published the findings from a roundtable meeting of 20 organizations in the topics of cancer, fitness, exercise, and obesity. The panel was created by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). That report and subsequent research reviews have found that exercise provides benefits both during and after cancer. Exercise with cancer is safe and it is can help people cope with cancer and treatment-related side effects. Furthermore, exercise may improve survival after diagnosis too. Jupiterimages / Getty Images Cancer Rehab When a person has a heart attack or some other form of heart disease, he or she will undertake a program of cardiac rehabilitation (rehab). Cardiac rehab includes organized exercise programs, run by physical therapists and exercise physiologists. These exercise programs are designed to help people with heart disease recover and have a good quality of life. Cardiac rehab also aims to reduce a person's risk of further heart disease-related health problems. This has been the standard of care for heart disease patients for decades. People affected by cancer deserve nothing less. Cancer centers need to develop a similar approach for cancer rehab. Major Benefits Exercise with cancer is safe, but are there any benefits to being physically active during and after cancer treatment? You bet! According to the experts, the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors are numerous. Exercise can lessen fatigue, one of the most common complaints of patients undergoing cancer treatment. Exercise can help people sleep better and lessen the likelihood of insomnia during treatment. And exercise improves physical functioning in cancer survivors during and after treatment. All of this adds up to significantly better quality of life for cancer survivors. With about 18 million cancer survivors in the US today, this is not a minor thing. This means a whole lot more well-functioning, and very likely happier, people. What Type of Exercise and How Much? For many cancer patients, doctors advise walking as a good way to get some exercise. Beyond walking, what and how much you should do depends on a number of things: What your level of physical activity was before you were diagnosed with cancerOther health conditions you haveThe type of cancer you haveThe type of cancer treatment you are undergoingSymptoms and side effects you are experiencingWhether you have had surgery recentlyWhether you have experienced bone loss due to your cancer or its treatmentWhether you have a history of, or are being treated for, blood clotsYour age and genderOther factors mentioned by your doctor or nurse For example, if you were very active before your cancer diagnosis, there is a good chance you can keep up much of your usual exercise routine when you feel up to it. If you were not physically active before your cancer diagnosis, you should talk to your doctor before you begin an exercise program. You need to get the OK from your medical team that your exercise plan is appropriate for your current level of fitness. Also, remember that other conditions you have, such as heart disease or diabetes, may affect the types and amount of exercise that are right for you. In general, walking is safe for most people. If you have not been physically active, short walks are a good place to start. But ask your doctor for more information and guidance before you begin. When You Should Not Exercise There are some situations in which it is not safe to exercise. Examples of times when it is not safe to exercise with cancer include: Recent surgery: If you have had surgery, ask your doctor when you can begin exercising. Also, ask your doctor what types of exercise are safe, given your history of surgery.Issues with blood clotting: If you are taking medications to manage coagulation (blood clotting), such as warfarin (Coumadin) or heparin, you may need to avoid certain types of exercise. Exercise that results in high impacts to your body, such as jogging, running, or basketball, may not be safe.Bone loss: If your cancer or its treatment causes bone loss, or if you have tumors in your bones, exercise may not be safe for you.Dizziness or extreme fatigue: If you suffer from dizziness or have very severe fatigue, exercise may not be safe for you. Ask your doctor for guidance. These are some examples of when it is not safe to exercise with cancer. There may be others. If in doubt, always check with your doctor before beginning any new activity during cancer treatment. The bottom line is that for most people with cancer, regular physical activity can help you feel better and live better, both during and after treatment. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Campbell KL, Winters-stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: Consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(11):2375-2390. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116 Mustian KM, Cole CL, Lin PJ, et al. Exercise recommendations for the management of symptoms clusters resulting from cancer and cancer treatments. Semin Oncol Nurs. 2016;32(4):383–393. doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.09.002 Schwartz AL, de Heer HD, Bea JW. Initiating exercise interventions to promote wellness in cancer patients and survivors. Oncology (Williston Park). 2017;31(10):711–717. Additional Reading American Cancer Society. Nutrition and Physical Activity After Cancer Treatment. American Cancer Society. Physical Activity and the Cancer Patient. National Cancer Institute. NCI Cancer Bulletin. Guidelines Urge Exercise for Cancer Patients, Survivors.