Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment
Publication Date: May 16, 2022
Last Updated: February 6, 2024
Treatment
Exercise
Recommendation 1.1
Oncology providers should recommend aerobic and resistance exercise during active treatment with curative intent to mitigate side effects of cancer treatment. (Evidence Quality: Moderate/Low) (EB, B, M, S)
Note: Exercise interventions during active treatment reduce fatigue; preserve cardiorespiratory fitness, physical functioning, and strength; and in some populations, improve quality of life and reduce anxiety and depression. In addition, exercise interventions during treatment have low risk of adverse events. Evidence was not sufficient to recommend for or against exercise during treatment to improve cancer control outcomes (recurrence or survival) or treatment completion rates.
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Recommendation 1.2
Oncology providers may recommend preoperative exercise for patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer to reduce length of hospital stay and post-operative complications. (EB, B, L, W)
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Diet
Recommendation 2.1
There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend for or against dietary interventions such as ketogenic or low carbohydrate diets, low fat diets, functional foods, or fasting to improve outcomes related to quality of life, treatment toxicity, or cancer control. (, , , )
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Recommendation 2.2
Neutropenic diets (specifically diets that exclude raw fruits and vegetables) are not recommended to prevent infection in cancer patients during active treatment. (EB, H, L, W)
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Recommendation 3
There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend for or against intentional weight loss or prevention of weight gain interventions during active treatment to improve outcomes related to quality of life, treatment toxicity, or cancer control. (, , , )
Note: The Expert Panel felt strongly that the current lack of evidence regarding diet and weight management interventions during cancer treatment should be a call to conduct more research in these critical areas. Diet and weight management strategies that provide health benefits to the general population could also provide important benefits to people who are undergoing cancer treatment. The Expert Panel is not discouraging clinicians from discussing healthy diet and weight with their patients, but did refrain from making specific recommendations, given gaps in the evidence.
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ASCO believes that cancer clinical trials are vital to inform medical decisions and improve cancer care and that all patients should have the opportunity to participate.
Additional information, which may include data supplements, slide sets, and other clinical tools and resources, is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines.
Additional information, which may include data supplements, slide sets, and other clinical tools and resources, is available at www.asco.org/supportive-care-guidelines.
Recommendation Grading
Disclaimer
The information in this patient summary should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Overview
Title
Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment
Authoring Organization
American Society of Clinical Oncology
Publication Month/Year
May 16, 2022
Last Updated Month/Year
February 5, 2024
Supplemental Implementation Tools
Document Type
Guideline
Country of Publication
US
Target Patient Population
Oncology patients
Inclusion Criteria
Male, Female, Adult, Older adult
Health Care Settings
Home health, Hospital, Outpatient
Intended Users
Dietician nutritionist, nurse, nurse practitioner, physical therapist, physician, physician assistant
Scope
Management
Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)
D000066888 - Diet, Food, and Nutrition, D001835 - Body Weight, D015444 - Exercise
Keywords
diet, exercise, cancer, Weight Management
Source Citation
Ligibel JA, Bohlke K, May AM, et al. Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022 May 16. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.00687
Supplemental Methodology Resources
Methodology
Number of Source Documents
123
Literature Search Start Date
January 1, 2000
Literature Search End Date
May 1, 2021