By Isabella Gimenez & Amanda Jordan
When you're living with cancer, exercise may be the last thing on your mind. Fatigue, appointments, treatment side effects, and the demands of everyday life can make it hard to imagine adding one more thing to your plate. But what if we thought about movement a little differently? Rather than seeing exercise as one more task on your to-do list, consider it a way to actively support your health during and after cancer treatment. Research increasingly shows that physical activity can be an important part of comprehensive cancer care, helping people feel better, maintain strength, and support their long-term well-being.
Regular physical activity can help improve energy, mood, strength, and quality of life, and may ease some treatment-related side effects. Researchers are also finding encouraging links between exercise and longer-term cancer outcomes. In a major 2025 study, people treated for colon cancer who participated in a structured, three-year exercise program were less likely to experience a cancer recurrence or other events affecting disease-free survival. They were also more likely to be alive eight years later than those who received health education alone. Studies involving people with breast and prostate cancer have also linked physical activity with better survival outcomes.
The good news? No marathons required. A short walk, gentle stretching, dancing to a favorite song, or a few simple strength exercises can all be ways to begin. Some days you may have more energy than others, and that's okay. The goal is to find movement that makes sense for you and to recognize that caring for your body can be part of caring for yourself throughout the cancer experience.
At Ann's Place, we offer movement classes both in-person and via zoom that give you opportunities to explore physical activity in a supportive environment. Whether you're looking to walk, stretch, build strength, improve balance, or simply make time for yourself, there may be a class that feels right for you.
Movement doesn't have to be another thing you feel you should do. It can be one of the ways you care for yourself. Start where you are, move at your own pace, and remember that even small steps count.
Curious to learn more?
Explore these resources to learn more about the role of movement during and after cancer:
· General information: American Cancer Society — Physical Activity When You Have Cancer · Breast cancer: BreastCancer.org — Exercise and Breast Cancer · Colon cancer: The CHALLENGE Trial — Original Research (2025) · Prostate cancer: Prostate Cancer UK — Physical Activity and Prostate Cancer · Lung cancer and other cancer types: Cancer Research UK — Exercise and Cancer · Cancer-related fatigue: National Cancer Institute — Fatigue and Cancer