ABSTRACT
Research is continuing to affirm the role of physical activity in primary, secondary, and tertiary cancer preventi on. Primary prevention comprises health promotion and risk reduction in healthy populations. Secondary prevention involves screening, detecting, diagnosing, and treating early-stage or premalignant cancers. Most physical activity and cancer research have revolved around a small subset of cancer types. Physical activity may be a more efficacious breast cancer prevention method in postmenopausal women; research has consistently supported an inverse correlation between postmenopausal physical activity and breast cancer risk reduction. In addition to its merit as a primary cancer prevention strategy, physical activity may also have a role in secondary cancer prevention. In order to personalize physical activity and exercise prescriptions for cancer and non-cancer patients, clinicians must understand exactly what “health-enhancing” activity entails. Physical activity should be a central tenet of any cancer prevention or treatment strategy.
