Physical activity before and after breast cancer treatment appeared associated with significant reductions in recurrence and mortality rates among a cohort of patients with high-risk disease, according to study results published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Additional evidence is mounting to show a strong association between post-diagnosis physical activity and breast cancer outcomes, demonstrating the potential therapeutic benefit of exercise as a part of comprehensive patient and survivorship care,” Rikki A. Cannioto, PhD, EdD, researcher in the department of cancer prevention and control at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, told Healio. “We also found that survivors did not need to exercise at the highest levels to experience a similar survival advantage, which is particularly encouraging given that patients and survivors may be overwhelmed by the most current guidelines.