Exercise Should Be Embedded in NHS Cancer Care, Says Charity

Cancer patients should be offered a range of exercise activities, including yoga, tai chi, and Nordic walking, as part of their NHS care to boost their chances of survival and stop tumours returning, a major charity has said. Maggie's, which operates 27 cancer support centres across the UK, is urging NHS bosses to make physical activity available to the 386,000 Britons diagnosed with the disease every year. Making exercise a routine part of cancer care would lead to patients needing less care from doctors and nurses, and save the health service millions of pounds a year, the charity says.

Key Takeaways:

• Maggie's is urging NHS bosses to include exercise in the care offered to cancer patients, citing its benefits in reducing pain, improving sleep and mental health, and boosting survival rates.
• The charity has provided 13,000 exercise sessions a year across its 27 centres, including yoga, tai chi, and Nordic walking, as part of its "prehabilitation" for cancer patients.
• A landmark study in June found that physical activity can cut the risk of cancer patients dying by a third, stop tumours recurring, and be a more effective treatment than drugs.
• World Cancer Research Fund has said that physical activity becoming part of standard NHS cancer care is a good idea, backed by strong evidence that patients benefit.
• NHS England's national director for cancer, Prof Peter Johnson, has said that the NHS wants to help patients be more active, but did not indicate if the service would start routinely providing exercise.

Statistics:

• 386,000 Britons are diagnosed with cancer every year (Maggie's)
• 13,000 exercise sessions are provided by Maggie's every year across its 27 centres
• Physical activity can cut the risk of cancer patients dying by a third (landmark study, June)
• The number of people in the UK living with cancer is expected to grow by 2040 (Maggie's)
• The NHS is working with government on the upcoming national cancer plan to reform services and drive further progress in early diagnosis, survival, and patient experience

Sources:

• Maggie's: "Maggie's calls on NHS to embed exercise into cancer care" (no date)
• World Cancer Research Fund: "Physical activity should be a standard part of NHS cancer care" (no date)
• NHS England: Statement from Prof Peter Johnson, national director for cancer (no date)
• June Landmark Study: "Physical activity can cut cancer risk by a third" (June)