New findings by researchers indicate that muscle strength and physical fitness, along with appropriate exercise programs, can reduce the risk of cancer-related death by nearly half.
In recent decades, the likelihood of dying from cancer has significantly decreased due to greater awareness of symptoms and improved access to treatment and care.
However, despite significant advancements, the side effects of treatment, including its adverse impacts on the heart and muscles, can influence mortality rates.
An analysis of data from nearly 47,000 patients with various types and stages of cancer in the UK has shown that muscle strength and physical fitness are significantly associated with a reduced risk of death from any cause in cancer patients.
According to these findings, compared to patients with weak muscle strength and low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, those with higher levels were 31% to 46% less likely to die from any cancer-related cause.
This combination of strength and fitness was associated with an 8% to 46% reduction in the risk of death in patients with stage 3 or 4 cancers and a 19% to 41% reduction in the risk of death in patients with lung or gastrointestinal cancers.
The researchers stated in their article: “Our findings suggest that muscle strength could potentially be used in clinical practice to determine the risk of mortality in advanced-stage cancer patients, and therefore, muscle-strengthening activities can be implemented to improve longevity.”
