Exercising during cancer treatment can help improve physical and mental health, manage treatment side effects—such as fatigue and nausea—and enhance overall quality of life.
Cancer and its treatments can be very demanding on the body, causing fatigue, pain, and other physical challenges.
Joining exercise into your daily routine can improve your strength, reduce stress, and boost your overall well-being. In the long run, exercise can provision your recovery, strengthen your immune system, and even reduce the chance of dying from cancer or experiencing a recurrence of the disease.
What kind of exercise is best during cancer treatment?
During cancer treatment, health experts typically recommend focusing on low-impact types of exercise, such as walking, lifting light weights, or practising gentle yoga. These activities can help recover your overall fitness and reduce fatigue without placing too much strain on your body.
Below are some recommended types of exercise:
- Aerobic exercise: Activities like walking, cycling, and swimming can recover cardiovascular health, reduce fatigue, and boost energy levels.
- Strength training: Lifting light weights and using confrontation posses can help uphold muscle mass and strength, which can weaken during treatment.
- Flexibility exercises, such as stretch or yoga, can improve range of motion, reduce stiffness, and promote relaxation.
- Balance exercises: Tai chi or stability training can improve stability and help prevent falls, especially if your treatments are affecting your balance.
Is exercising safe during cancer treatment?
In general, exercise is safe when you have cancer and during cancer treatment; However, it is important to refer with your healthcare team before starting any exercise program. A small 2023 study suggests that incorporating exercise into a person’s daily routine is safe and may increase the likelihood of completing a full course of chemotherapy in individuals with breast, gastrointestinal, or pancreatic cancer. Additionally, exercising during chemotherapy may help reduce the severity and frequency of side effects.
However, if you develop lymphedema as a result of lymph node removal or the treatment you received, it is especially important to consult an exercise physiologist to ensure your fitness plan does not worsen the swelling.
Exercising after cancer treatment
Exercise after cancer treatment is highly optional for many details.
A 2026 review of studies originate that exercise meaningfully reduced the risk of death and cancer recurrence both during and after cancer treatment.
Another 2020 review also suggests that workout can help you maintain muscle forte, manage weight changes, and improve overall health and excellence of life during and after cancer treatment. Additionally, it may decrease the risk of heart disease, which is particularly important for those who have had cancer.
In a small 26-week study involving 26 female participants who had completed their cancer treatment, researchers found that both aerobic exercise (such as portable or using an elliptical machine) and confrontation training (using weights or resistance bands) facilitated increase bone density in the spine, hips, and throughout the body.
These findings suggest a possible reduction in the risk of osteoporosis in individuals who have completed their cancer treatment.
As always, it is important to consult with your healthcare team to control if exercise is safe and appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Additional Guidelines
If you plan to engage in any exercise during or after cancer treatment, keep the following tips in mind:
- Consult your healthcare team before start any exercise program.
- Start slowly and gradually growth the intensity and duration of your exercises.
- Listen to your body and regulate your exercise routine based on how you feel.
- Include a mixture of aerobic, strength, flexibility, and equilibrium exercises.
- Stay hydrated and maintain a stable diet to maintain your energy levels.
- Pay attention to any signs of uneasiness or unusual symptoms, and consult your healthcare team as needed.
What are the profits of exercising during cancer treatment?
According to a 2021 review of the works, exercise can improve a range of health outcomes related to cancer and its treatment. For example, it can help to:
- reduce fatigue
- improve quality of life
- manage anxiety and depression
- keep bone health
- manage lymphedema
- improve physical function
- advance sleep quality
Additional 2025 review suggests that staying physically active—that is, engaging in any movement that requires energy expenditure—after a cancer diagnosis is associated with better survival rates, both cancer-specific and overall. Exercise can improve cancer survival through three main pathways:
- directly affecting tumour growth
- improving treatment completion rates
- enhancing treatment efficacy
A review of nine studies originate that physical activity improved immunological markers, quality of life, and cancer-related fatigue. The authors also observed lower levels of inflammatory markers and higher heights of natural killer (NK) cells.
Can exercise ease the side effects of cancer treatment?
In addition to cultivating many aspects of health and potentially reducing tumour growth, exercise can help alleviate many of the challenging side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
In a small 2019 study (Trusted Source) involving 38 women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, participants attended either resistance or strength training sessions during the first week after treatment.
Researchers measured changes in common chemotherapy side effects—such as fatigue, stress, nausea, and pain—immediately before and after each exercise session. They found that both types of training produced immediate improvements: resistance training improved energy levels and reduced nausea, while strength training improved energy, stress, and nausea.
These findings suggest that even a single session of exercise can help alleviate these effects in people experiencing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
In a 2026 review of six studies, investigators examined how exercise affected physical functioning and treatment-related side belongings in men with prostate cancer undergoing radiation therapy. They found that exercise significantly improved cardiovascular and muscular function and summary urinary toxicity.
However, the authors noted that the properties of exercise on other side effects—such as intestinal or hormonal toxicity, depression, and sleep problems—are less certain and require further research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of exercise is best during cancer treatment?
During cancer treatment, the best kinds of exercise are usually low-impact activities that are gentle on the body, such as:
- walking
- light lifting
- yoga
- tai chi
- swimming
Can exercise benefit manage the side effects of cancer treatment?
Exercise can help manage a variety of side effects of cancer treatment, such as exhaustion, nausea, pain, and expressive distress. It can also help you achieve your weight and improve your quality of life both during and after cancer treatment.
When can I start exercising after cancer treatment is over?
In general, it is recommended to wait before exercising until you have recovered from surgery or any acute side effects resulting from treatment.
However, it is important to remain physically active as soon as possible after completing cancer treatment, as prolonged rest can chief to muscle weakness, reduced physical function, and reduced range of motion. Your medical team can help you decide when it is safe to begin exercising.
Conclusion
Exercise is important both during and after cancer treatment, as it can help decrease side effects, improve physical and mental well-being, and improve your overall quality of life. It offers a proactive approach to handling your health during a interesting time and can promote a sense of empowerment and resilience.
Also Read: The 13 Most Common Cancer Types