Walking for 30 minutes a day and yoga can help reduce fatigue in cancer patients and reduce the risk of the disease spreading, coming back or dying, new research suggests.
Worldwide, more than 18 million people have cancer every year. It is known that an inactive life increases the risk of various forms of disease. For decades, many oncologists and other professionals have been reluctant to push patients to exercise after sometimes grueling treatment regimens. But this approach is changing.
Three studies presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's largest cancer conference, point to growing evidence that physical activity can help, not hinder, patients.
"Our data suggest that yoga significantly reduces inflammation in cancer survivors," the study authors wrote in a report published at the ASCO meeting.
Another study found that cancer patients who are physically active can reduce their risk of death by almost a fifth.
