85.9% of cancer patients received exercise advice, but only 62.5% were active; 30.7% lacked knowledge about exercise details, with disparities by health system and race.
What is the level of knowledge and adherence to exercise recommendations among cancer patients?
Despite high rates of receiving general exercise recommendations, a significant proportion of cancer patients lack specific knowledge and remain inactive, highlighting disparities based on health system type and race.
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Abstract Background: Physical activity positively influences various aspects of cancer treatment. Among patients (pts) undergoing active therapy, it improves physical capacity, treatment tolerability, and reduces side effects. For cancer survivors, it lowers the risk of recurrence of tumors such as breast and colorectal. Despite its importance, the extent to which pts are informed about exercise recommendations remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a self-administered survey to evaluate exercise habits and knowledge among cancer pts treated between 2022 and 2024. Participants were recruited from a private oncology network (with units across Brazil) and two public cancer centers. Pts, irrespective of tumor type, disease stage, or treatment phase, completed the survey via RedCap. Results: Of the 394 pts who answered the survey, 76.4% were female. Median age was 56 years (range 23 – 92). The cohort included 52.8% self-identified white pts and 44.8% black/mixed race pts; 63.9% were treated in the private health system and 36.1% in the public. The most common primary tumors were breast (47.7%) and gastrointestinal (16.2%). While 85.9% reported receiving any exercise recommendations from physicians, only 62.5% described themselves as physically active. In addition, 30.7% stated they lacked knowledge about the type or duration of recommended exercises. Exercise guidance and adherence were lower among patients treated in public health centers, black/mixed race pts, and those with non-breast cancer (Table). Notably, 94.2% of pts without sufficient information expressed a desire to learn more about exercise. Conclusion: Although a majority of cancer pts receive general recommendations on physical activity, adherence and understanding of specific exercise guidelines remain suboptimal. Variability in exercise awareness based on health system type and race highlights disparities that must be addressed. Promoting physical activity awareness and accessibility, particularly in resource-limited settings, is crucial. Exercise should not remain a privilege for a few but rather a fundamental aspect of care accessible to all pts, regardless of their circumstances. Citation Format: R. C. Cangussu, L. Andrade, L. Testa, C. Lima, A. S. Ferreira, C. M. Moniz, S. R. Chagas, P. M. Hoff, M. Estevez-Diz, R. Colombo Bonadio. Knowledge and adherence to exercise recommendations among oncologic patients abstract. In: Proceedings of the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2025; 2025 Dec 9-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2026;32(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS1-02-10.
Cangussu et al. (Tue,) reported a other. 85.9% of cancer patients received exercise advice, but only 62.5% were active; 30.7% lacked knowledge about exercise details, with disparities by health system and race.
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