The ACSM International Multidisciplinary Roundtable on Exercise and Cancer Prevention and Control, held in March 2018, convened experts from around the globe and 20 partner organizations, which included the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute-part of the National Institutes of Health, with aim to review latest scientific evidence and update recommendations about the benefits of exercise for prevention, treatment, recovery and improved survival. Following the roundtable mentioned above, in October 2019, three papers were published, two in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (1,2), and one in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (3) outlining updated recommendations. Historically, clinicians advised cancer patients to rest and to avoid physical activity, but early exercise research in the 1990s and 2000s challenged this advice (2). Between 1st ACSM Roundtable in 2008 and the latest in March 2018, the number of randomized controlled exercise trials in cancer survivors has increased by 281% (2), giving sufficient information for specific exercise prescription.

Those infographics outlines the effects of exercise on health-related outcomes in those with cancer. The chart features evidence-based physical activity recommendations and the associated benefits for specific symptoms and side effects of cancer and its treatments (4,5).

References:

1. Patel, AV, et al., American College of Sports Medicine Roundtable Report on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Cancer Prevention and Control.Exit Disclaimer Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 51 no. 11 (Nov 2019): 2391-2402. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002117.

2. Campbell, KL, et al., Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: Consensus Statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 51 no. 11 (Nov 2019): 2375-90. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116

3. Schmitz, KH et al., Exercise is medicine in oncology: Engaging clinicians to help patients move through cancer. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Oct 16, 2019. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21579.

4. ACSM: New Infographic Available | Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Patients and Survivors: (Nov 2019) Downloaded from https://www.acsm.org/read-research/newsroom/news-releases/news-detail/2019/11/27/new-infographic-available-exercise-guidelines-cancer-patients-survivors

5. ACSM: Expert Panel: Cancer Treatment Plans Should Include Tailored Exercise Prescriptions: (Oct 2019) Downloaded from https://www.acsm.org/read-research/newsroom/news-releases/news-detail/2019/10/16/expert-panel-cancer-treatment-plans-should-include-tailored-exercise-prescriptions

6. National Cancer Institute: New Reports Highlight the Critical Role of Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention, Treatment, and Survival; (Oct 2019); Downloaded from https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2019/acsm-exercise-guidelines