A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine has found that muscular strength and good physical fitness can significantly reduce the risk of cancer death. The research analyzed data from nearly 47,000 patients with various types and stages of cancer, revealing that those with higher levels of muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness were up to 46% less likely to die from any cause.
The study suggests that tailored exercise plans may increase survival rates among cancer patients. While cancer death rates have decreased in recent decades due to improved treatment and care, the side effects of treatment can still affect survival. The researchers found that muscle strength was associated with an 8-46% lower risk of death in patients with stage 3 or 4 cancer.
Maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active are also crucial steps to reduce cancer risk, according to experts. A separate study found that exercising regularly and keeping a healthy waistline were more effective at cutting the risk of cancer than doing only one or the other.
Furthermore, Cancer Research UK has announced plans to develop new tools using AI and analytics to improve early cancer detection and prevention. The charity aims to create personalized tools that can predict an individual’s chances of getting cancer, offering targeted screening and support for those at higher risk and sparing unnecessary tests for those at lower risk.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jan/22/fitness-and-muscle-strength-could-halve-cancer-patient-deaths-study-suggests