Regance

Incredibly, doctors once advised cancer patients to avoid exercise. But ever since experts quelled that myth in the mid- to late-1990s, research on the benefits of exercise during cancer treatment has accelerated. A review published in PM&R, the journal of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, looked at more than a decade of research and concluded that exercise can improve clinical, functional, and sometimes even survival outcomes, and can be recommended regardless of the type of cancer.

This growing body of evidence is especially relevant for people who have lung cancer, who particularly benefit from staying physically active during and after treatment. Plus, experts are learning that lung cancer patients who pursue an exercise regimen before treatment, a process known as prehabbing, may not only better endure the rigors of therapy, they may increase their chances of survival.