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It can keep cancer in remission. Why is no one talking about it?
The Seattle Times • • health
Key Points:
- Exercise programs tailored for cancer patients, such as the one at UPMC, have shown significant benefits in improving energy levels, quality of life, and even survival rates, particularly for colon cancer patients.
- A landmark randomized trial demonstrated that colon cancer patients participating in structured exercise had a higher eight-year survival rate (90% vs. 83%) and reduced cancer recurrence, with the program also proving cost-effective for health systems.
- Despite clinical guidelines recommending exercise for cancer patients, lack of insurance coverage and infrastructure limits access, especially for lower-income individuals and those distant from major cancer centers.
- UPMC plans to become the first health system to offer insurance-covered exercise oncology programs, starting with breast cancer patients in 2025, aiming to expand to all cancer types by 2028 based on promising trial results.
- Experts emphasize that exercise for cancer patients requires behavioral support and personalized plans, recognizing it as a necessary therapeutic intervention rather than a mere lifestyle suggestion.
