Effects of Exercise and Physical Activity in Cancer
A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 5
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
A Special Issue on exercise and physical activity in cancer, to be published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, is being organized. For detailed information on the journal, I refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Significant advances in cancer screening and treatment have resulted in a greater number of cancer survivors than at any time previously, yet a cancer diagnosis still frequently results in a significant burden. People diagnosed with cancer continue to experience impacts to their physical, emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Furthermore, many cancer treatment options result in late effects that impact quality of life and increase health care costs—a significant public health challenge.
Across the cancer continuum, from pre-diagnosis, through treatment, and into survivorship, healthy lifestyle behaviors are a vitally important aspect of health and well-being. Physical activity and exercise can be safely initiated and maintained throughout cancer treatment and into survivorship to maintain physical and functional health, limit negative changes in body composition and weight gain, reduce the risks of cardiometabolic disease, and promote psychological well-being. Despite the promising benefits of physical activity and exercise, many cancer patients and survivors lack the socioeconomic and environmental resources or behavioral skills to safely adopt or maintain their physically active lifestyle during the stressful and challenging context of a cancer diagnosis. Research continues to explore the most effective means of promoting physical activity and exercise to improve well-being and health among those dealing with cancer. Some effective approaches have ranged from traditional person-level exercise training interventions to those leveraging technology-based remote support and social aspects of group- and community-based activity promotion programs.
It is thus critical to develop a concise and unified understanding of which approaches will work best for reducing the risk for and preventing cancer, to knowing which patients and survivors will require specially tailored programs and socioecological resources. Maintaining the long-term health and well-being of the millions of people who will be diagnosed with cancer can ensure they can continue to participate actively in their families, communities, and workplaces.
This Special Issue is open to the subject area of exercise and physical activity in cancer. The keywords listed below provide an outline of some of the possible areas of interest.
Dr. Alexander Lucas
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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Keywords
- physical activity
- exercise oncology
- cancer prevention
- cancer survivorship
- treatment-related side effects
- behavioral interventions
- cardio-oncology
- implementation science
- health disparities
- digital health and wearable technology
- home-based interventions
- sedentary behavior
- exercise adherence
- quality of life
- precision exercise medicine
- mechanistic trials
- community-based exercise programs
- rehabilitation in oncology
- aging and cancer
- rural health
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