Exercise ‘better than drugs’ to stop cancer returning after treatment, trial finds

After five years, patients in an exercise regime had a 28% lower risk of recurrent or new cancers. Photograph: amriphoto/Getty Images

Exercise can reduce the risk of cancer patients dying by a third, stop tumours coming back and is even more effective than drugs, according to the results of a landmark trial that could transform health guidelines worldwide.

For decades, doctors have recommended adopting a healthy lifestyle to lower the risk of developing cancer. But until now there has been little evidence of the impact it could have after diagnosis, with little support for incorporating exercise into patients’ routines.