Objective: To review the best current evidence regarding the effects of exercise on modifiable risk factors for adverse physiologic outcomes of cancer and its treatment.
Data sources: Clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and single studies.
Conclusion: There is mounting evidence that exercise improves fatigue, physical functioning, and cardio-respiratory fitness. Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise also contributes to improvements in body weight and composition, metabolic risk factors, and immune function. It may also influence disease-free and overall survival in selected populations.
Implications for nursing practice: Exercise appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intervention that may minimize or prevent adverse physiologic outcomes of cancer and cancer treatment.