Exercise Mitigates 'Chemo Brain' in Cancer Patients

A nationwide Phase III clinical trial, led by the University of Rochester Medical Center===Wilmot Cancer Institute and published in JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, found that a tailored exercise program called EXCAP significantly reduces cognitive impairment in cancer patients undergoing biweekly chemotherapy. The study, co-authored by Karen M. Mustian and Po-Ju Lin, involved nearly 700 patients across 20 community oncology practices in the United States. Patients following the EXCAP program, which includes walking and resistance band exercises, reported less cognitive decline and mental fatigue compared to those without a structured exercise plan, who saw their daily walking reduced by 53%. The benefits were most pronounced in patients on a two-week chemotherapy cycle. This research suggests that incorporating home-based exercise prescriptions into routine chemotherapy care can be a safe, simple, and effective supportive measure, enhancing patient well-being and quality of life during treatment. Medical oncologist Lindsay L. Peterson, not involved in the study, affirmed its importance for patient independence and continued engagement in daily life.