The documented benefits of exercise are many and varied, even for cancer survivors. The good news: Many standard cancer therapies don't affect the overall cardiovascular fitness level of cancer survivors, according to an observational study of women who attended a fitness clinic monitored by physicians.

Researchers evaluated 49 women with the help of a three-minute step test that better measures a patient's exercise tolerance and cardiovascular fitness, serves as a reality check for folks who believe they are more physically fit than they really are.

Although a third of the women monitored were considered sedentary, 71 percent of the participants overall completed the step test. What's more, age, treatment or body mass index (BMI) had no effect on a woman's ability to complete the step test or on her heart rate recovery.

While the side effects of some cancer therapies may hinder physical activity, scientists were quick to point out that many standard treatments played no role in doing so.

Science Daily June 3, 2009