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Can physical activity mitigate some of the debilitating effects of cancer treatment? To find out, investigators conducted a meta-analysis of 34 randomized, controlled trials in which patients were assigned to physical-activity interventions after their cancer treatment or did not engage in posttreatment exercise regimens. Twenty-two of the trials (65%) included only breast cancer patients; most of the others included patients with various types of cancer. Physical-activity interventions (median duration, 13 weeks) included aerobic exercise and resistance strength training. Exercise intensity, specified in only 13 trials, was usually moderate.
Compared with physical inactivity, exercise interventions were associated with significant improveme…