It has been known that early diagnosis and recent medical improvements have increased longevity in cancer survivors. Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine found that physical activity in cancer survivors may add years to their lives.
Published in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, the study examined 1,021 male cancer survivors who were Harvard undergraduates between 1916 and 1950 – The study was known as the Harvard Alumni Health Study. With the mean age of 71, the men filled out questionnaires of their physical activities six years after their cancer diagnoses in 1988. Men diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer were not included in this study.
The follow-ups lasted until 2008. 777 deaths were among the participants, including 335 (43%) from cancer and 190 (24.4%) from heart disease. During analysis, the men were grouped according to age, body mass index, smoking, diet, and early parental death. The researchers found that men who burned approximately 3,009 calories per week through exercise were 48% less likely to die from any cause.
The researchers also found that higher levels of physical activity were linked to lower rates of death from cancer and cardiovascular disease. They said, “Engaging in physical activity after a cancer diagnosis is associated with better survival among men.”
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