>>Story at-a-glance

• A 2025 meta-analysis of 46,694 cancer patients found that higher muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness reduced all-cause mortality risk by 31% to 46% across different cancer types and stages

• The same study showed that each unit increase in muscle strength reduced death risk by 11%, while increases in cardiovascular fitness lowered cancer-specific mortality by 18%

• Beyond improving cancer outcomes, a 2021 review of 188 studies found that regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing multiple cancer types by 10% to 20% through various mechanisms

• For cancer patients, intense workouts aren't necessary; simple activities like daily walks or standing up from a chair multiple times meaningfully improve strength and fitness

• The optimal daily target for walking is 10,000 to 12,000 steps, while strength training is most effective at 40 to 60 minutes weekly, spread across two to three sessions; exceeding 130 minutes negates benefits

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that 618,120 Americans will die from cancer in 2025, averaging 1,700 deaths per day.1 While conventional cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy remain the standard approach, these methods focus exclusively on eliminating cancer cells. These interventions also come with significant side effects, which further impact survival and quality of life.

Despite this, far less attention has been given to the broader factors that influence survival, particularly the body's overall resilience and ability to self-heal. Now, a systematic review with meta-analysis published in January 2025 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine2 is bringing renewed focus to a vital yet often overlooked factor in cancer outcomes — physical fitness.