Cancer and Physical Activity

Audie A. Atienza & Abby C. King

Physical activity holds relevance across the cancer control continuum, from prevention to survivorship. Physical activity has been defined as bodily movement produced by skeletal muscle contractions that increase the amount of energy expended over resting metabolic rate (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1996). Current research evidence suggests that physical activity may not only prevent certain cancers from occurring but may also help individuals manage some of the difficulties related to cancer treatments (e.g., physical side effects, poorer quality of life) or help individuals improve their health following treatment for cancer. Observational studies (i.e., cohort and case-control designs) support the view that regular physical activity can protect against susceptibility to cancers at specific sites, with the strongest evidence for colon and breast cancer (International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC], 2002; McTiernan, Ulrich, Slate, & Potter, 1998). Cancer site refers to the particular tissue or organ in the Overall ...

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