Cancer continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and it is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (2022), 30% to 50% of cancer cases could have been avoided by following healthy lifestyles.
Complications such as muscle weakness, due to a high loss of muscle mass and body weight, and extreme fatigue, among others, are consequences of the tumor itself, as well as of the therapies applied for cancer (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). This mainly produces sarcopenia, a decrease in aerobic capacity, and therefore a deterioration in the quality of life. Other potential side effects of cancer treatment include the possible development of chronic inflammation, reduced bone mineral density, decreased cognitive functioning, vomiting, nausea, appetite loss, insomnia, peripheral neuropathy, and psychosocial disturbances. In this sense, there is increasing scientific evidence of the bio-psychosocial benefits of physical exercise both to reduce and prevent side effects during and after the treatment.
It is evident that the practice of regular physical exercise, according to the recommended patterns, both before diagnosis, during treatment, and after it, reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality. Despite these recommendations and the numerous benefits of practicing physical activity, only a third of cancer survivors practice it.
Through this Research Topic, we intend to contribute to the progress in research on the role of physical exercise in cancer patients by supporting the publication of studies that analyze biological, psychological, and social variables in people who are receiving cancer treatments and in cancer survivors.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.
Cancer continues to be one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and it is the second cause of death after cardiovascular diseases. According to the World Health Organization (2022), 30% to 50% of cancer cases could have been avoided by following healthy lifestyles.
Complications such as muscle weakness, due to a high loss of muscle mass and body weight, and extreme fatigue, among others, are consequences of the tumor itself, as well as of the therapies applied for cancer (chemotherapy and radiotherapy). This mainly produces sarcopenia, a decrease in aerobic capacity, and therefore a deterioration in the quality of life. Other potential side effects of cancer treatment include the possible development of chronic inflammation, reduced bone mineral density, decreased cognitive functioning, vomiting, nausea, appetite loss, insomnia, peripheral neuropathy, and psychosocial disturbances. In this sense, there is increasing scientific evidence of the bio-psychosocial benefits of physical exercise both to reduce and prevent side effects during and after the treatment.
It is evident that the practice of regular physical exercise, according to the recommended patterns, both before diagnosis, during treatment, and after it, reduces the risk of recurrence and mortality. Despite these recommendations and the numerous benefits of practicing physical activity, only a third of cancer survivors practice it.
Through this Research Topic, we intend to contribute to the progress in research on the role of physical exercise in cancer patients by supporting the publication of studies that analyze biological, psychological, and social variables in people who are receiving cancer treatments and in cancer survivors.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal.