Physical Activity Reduces the Risk of Recurrence and Mortality in Cancer Patients

The biological mechanisms through which physical activity reduces metastatic disease recurrence and mortality in cancer patients are not known. This review offers the hypothesis that physical activity reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality in cancer patients through two synergistic processes: 1) indirect (systemic) effects related to the host tumor microenvironment; and 2) direct (physical) effects on cancer cells.