ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Can exercise help prevent cancer, improve treatment outcomes, or reduce the risk of cancer coming back? And if exercise is so beneficial, why is it often so difficult to get started?
Research is revealing just how important physical activity may be before, during, and after cancer treatment. But knowing exercise helps and actually being able to do it are two very different things.
In this episode of the Functional Longevity Podcast, host Chris Borda breaks down the science behind exercise and cancer, including findings from the groundbreaking CHALLENGE colon cancer trial, and explains why having a structured plan and ongoing support may be just as important as the exercise itself.
You'll discover:
🔬 Exercise and cancer prevention: What research tells us about physical activity and cancer risk.
❤️ Exercise during treatment: How appropriately prescribed movement may support strength, energy, and quality of life.
💪 Exercise after cancer: What the CHALLENGE trial revealed about structured exercise following colon cancer treatment.
🧠 Why willpower isn't enough: The challenges of exercising when you're dealing with fatigue, uncertainty, or recovery.
🚶 Where to start: Why the right exercise depends on your health, treatment, symptoms, and current abilities.
🤝 The power of support: Why coaching, accountability, and a personalized plan can make exercise more manageable.
🌱 Healthy aging after 40: How maintaining strength, mobility, and physical function supports long-term independence.
The biggest takeaway? Knowing exercise is beneficial isn't the same as having the support to make it happen.
The goal isn't to push harder or simply tell someone with cancer to exercise more.
It's to help people find safe, appropriate, sustainable ways to move—with guidance, encouragement, and a plan that meets them where they are.
Because exercise isn't just about fitness. It's about maintaining the strength and ability to keep living your life.
Whether you're navigating cancer treatment, supporting someone you love, or simply interested in the science of exercise and longevity, this episode offers valuable insights into the relationship between movement, health, and recovery.
🎧 Want to stay stronger, healthier, and more independent as you age?
Follow the Functional Longevity Podcast on Spotify for weekly, evidence-based conversations about strength training, nutrition, recovery, disease prevention, and healthy aging after 40.
The goal isn't just to live longer. It's to live better.
💪 About Y.E.S. Fitness
For more than 35 years, we've helped adults 40+ get stronger, feel younger, and keep doing the things they love.
Ready to take the next step?
Schedule your complimentary Strategy Session at:
https://www.yesfitnessct.com/start-here
Or call 860-673-4293.
Important: Exercise complements cancer treatment; it does not replace medical care. Always consult your oncology team before beginning or changing an exercise program.
Research discussed:
CHALLENGE Trial — New England Journal of Medicine (2025)
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2502760
Exercise and Cancer Risk — JAMA Internal Medicine (2016)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27183032/
ASCO Exercise Guidelines During Cancer Treatment (2022)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35576506/
International Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors (2019)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31626055/
If this episode helped you, share it with someone who could benefit from hearing it.
Get Fit. Feel Younger. Live Better.
