Cancer patients urged to swap vitamins for exercise

Cancer patients are turning to vitamin supplements instead of dramatically improving their chances of survival through exercise and losing weight, an expert has warned.

Professor Robert Thomas, an oncologist from Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said more needed to be done to drive up survival rates and lower the side-effects of treatment through healthy eating, exercise and dropping pounds.

He said people were relying too much on vitamins and supplements, with little evidence they worked, rather than doing simple things like taking brisk walks.

The “elephant in the room” was what patients do to help themselves, he added.

Research shows that healthy lifestyles give cancer patients a better chance of coping with treatment alongside improved moods and fewer side-effects.

Prof Thomas said: “We know that three hours of exercise per week after most cancers reduces the chance of relapse by up to 30%.”

His study of 120 patients found only 11% were doing any exercise during recovery, while 68% were overweight or obese.