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Exercise Can Help Cancer Patients but Goes Uncovered
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- Structured exercise programs have been shown to reduce cancer recurrence and improve survival rates, particularly in colon cancer patients, according to a major randomized trial.
- Despite evidence that supervised exercise can save healthcare costs, insurers rarely cover "exercise oncology," leaving many patients without access to these programs.
- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center plans to cover a tailored exercise program for breast cancer patients through its employee health plan, potentially setting a precedent for standard cancer care.
- Currently, most exercise oncology programs rely on philanthropy, hospital pilots, or community organizations like the YMCA due to lack of insurance funding.
- The New York Times article by Nina Agrawal highlights patient stories, data, and policy implications surrounding the integration of exercise into cancer treatment.
