Exercise with ovarian, lung, blood and other cancers

Yes: for most people with ovarian, lung, blood, skin or other cancers, exercise is safe and recommended before, during and after treatment, as long as it is adjusted for weak bones, low blood counts, wounds or breathlessness. The ACSM roundtable found exercise "generally safe for cancer survivors" [1] and ASCO recommends aerobic and resistance exercise during treatment [2]. What changes by cancer type is the list of cautions.

This page is part of our guides to cancer rehabilitation in the UK. For the most common cancers, see breast cancer exercise, prostate cancer exercise and bowel cancer exercise.

Can you exercise with ovarian cancer?

Yes. Exercise with ovarian cancer is generally safe and helps with fitness, fatigue and mood [1]. Cancer Research UK lists ovarian cancer among those where being active after diagnosis may reduce the risk of dying [9]. Start moving soon after surgery, avoid heavy lifting until your team says otherwise, and check with them first if your blood counts are low during chemotherapy.

Prehabilitation for ovarian cancer works as for any major surgery: being active beforehand may "help you recover more quickly" [7]. See prehabilitation.

Exercise after ovarian cancer surgery starts on the ward. Macmillan says "it is important to start moving around as soon as possible after surgery" to reduce complications such as blood clots, and after surgery to the pelvis you "may be shown exercises to help strengthen your stomach and pelvic floor muscles" [7]. During chemotherapy, see exercise during chemotherapy. If lymph nodes were removed and your leg swells, see lymphoedema exercises.

On exercise and ovarian cancer recurrence, be wary of confident claims. Macmillan names breast and bowel cancer where "some emerging evidence" links activity to a lower risk of cancer coming back, and says "more evidence is needed" [7]. We found nothing verified for ovarian cancer.

Can you exercise with lung cancer?

Yes. Exercise is safe and helpful for most people with lung cancer, including after surgery and with advanced disease. Feeling out of breath is common, but moving less makes your muscles weaker, "and this can make breathing harder" [12]. Check with your doctor or nurse first that there are "no unstable heart or respiratory issues" [7].

A Cochrane review of 8 trials (450 people) found that exercise within 12 months of lung surgery increased six-minute walk distance by about 57 metres (high-certainty evidence) and may reduce breathlessness (very low-certainty evidence) [3]. In advanced lung cancer, a Cochrane review of 6 small trials (221 people) found walking distance about 63 metres higher in the 4 trials that measured it, but no clear effect on breathlessness or fatigue, and the authors say the findings "should be viewed with caution" [4]. ASCO says exercise may be recommended before lung surgery [2].

Breathing techniques help you keep going. Roy Castle describes pursed-lip breathing: "Exhale slowly through pursed lips (like you're going to whistle) for 4-6 seconds" [11]. Asthma + Lung UK's "blow as you go" is simpler: "Breathe out while you're making the effort" [12]. A handheld fan can also help [11]. After surgery, avoid heavy lifting for a while [6]. If you are offered NHS pulmonary rehabilitation, take it; see our pulmonary rehab guide.

Can you exercise with blood cancer or after a stem cell transplant?

Usually yes. A Cochrane review of 18 trials in 1,892 adults with acute leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma, 8 of them including stem cell transplant, found aerobic exercise "probably improves fatigue" and may improve depression [5]. The cautions are about blood counts, infection and lines, so tell your doctor or nurse your plans first.

Blood Cancer UK suggests aiming for "20-30 minutes of general activity every day" plus strengthening "at least twice a week" [10]. The effect on quality of life is unclear and there was no difference in deaths [5]. Macmillan's cautions [6]:

• Low platelets: exercise gently and avoid high-impact activity until your count is back to a safe level.
• Low white cells: avoid busy public places, including swimming pools and gyms; try online classes instead.
• Anaemia: rest when you need to until it improves.
• Central or PICC line: no swimming, and avoid vigorous upper-body exercise that could displace the line.

After a stem cell transplant, the ACSM roundtable recommends "a full recovery of the immune system" before returning to gyms shared with the general public [1]. If myeloma has affected your bones, the bone cautions below apply too.

Is it safe to exercise with bone metastases?

Often yes, but only with your team's agreement and a programme built around which bones are affected. "Weakened bones are more likely to break (fracture)" [8], so speak to your healthcare team before starting any exercise [6]. Low-impact activity such as walking, swimming and cycling is usually suitable; high-impact sport, repeated forward bending and twisting the spine are not [6][9].

What to avoid [1][6][9]:

• High-impact activity: running, football, tennis, squash, hockey and contact sports.
• Repetitive forward bending at the waist, including toe-touching and sit-ups.
• Movements that twist the spine: yoga-style twists, the rowing machine, golf and tennis swings.
• Uneven surfaces and anything that raises your risk of a fall [7].

For cancer that has spread to the bones, Macmillan lists low-impact activities that are usually safe: walking, dancing, climbing stairs, swimming, cycling and light-resistance exercises, plus balance work such as tai chi [6][7]. If you have primary bone cancer (such as a sarcoma), your surgical and physiotherapy team will set your exercise plan. Macmillan suggests asking your cancer doctor to refer you to a clinical exercise physiologist or physiotherapist before you start [7].

Know the red flags for spinal cord compression: back or neck pain that becomes severe, weakness in the arms or legs, numbness or pins and needles, or bladder or bowel problems. If any develop, "it is very important to let your doctor or specialist nurse know straight away" [8].

Can you exercise after skin cancer removal?

Usually yes. Start moving as soon as you can after surgery, but avoid heavy lifting for a while [6]. How soon you can stretch or load the area depends on where the wound is and whether you had a skin graft, so ask your surgeon or nurse which activities to avoid "and for how long" [7].

If radiotherapy has made your skin react, avoid swimming until it settles: "the chemicals in the water can irritate your skin" [7]. If lymph nodes were removed after melanoma, wear any compression garment while exercising and avoid static holds such as the plank [6][7]; see lymphoedema exercises. Macmillan also advises: "Protect yourself in the sun" [7].

Can you exercise with head and neck cancer?

Yes, and it is worth starting before treatment if you can. Research on exercise and head and neck cancer is thinner than for lung or bowel cancer. Macmillan notes that "doing exercises to help build muscle before treatment starts can mean you have some in reserve if you lose weight" [7], which matters if eating and swallowing become difficult. Ask for a dietitian alongside your exercise plan.

During radiotherapy, wear loose clothing and avoid swimming while your skin is reacting [7]. After neck surgery, a physiotherapist or clinical exercise physiologist can "assess and treat any specific issues you have - for example limited movement due to surgery" [7]. See also nutrition during cancer treatment for swallowing problems and lymphoedema exercises for neck and face swelling.

What about pancreatic, bladder, kidney and brain cancers?

The same core advice applies: avoid inactivity, build up to regular aerobic and resistance exercise, and adjust for your treatment [1][2]. Cancer Research UK recommends working towards 150 minutes of moderate activity a week plus strength training twice a week [9].

• Exercise with pancreatic cancer: the cancer can reduce the enzymes your pancreas makes, which "can cause symptoms like weight loss", and Pancreatic Cancer UK advises seeing a dietitian [13]. Building muscle "can mean you have some in reserve if you lose weight" [7]. See nutrition during cancer treatment.
• Exercise after bladder cancer: with a stoma, once other wounds have healed your stoma nurse can guide you and refer you to a physiotherapist or clinical exercise physiologist [7]. The ACSM advises avoiding breath-holding (the Valsalva manoeuvre) and modifying core exercises that raise abdominal pressure [1].
• Kidney cancer exercise: follow the after-surgery advice above. In Macmillan's booklet, Peter, who had kidney cancer, was back to dancing five weeks after surgery [7].
• Exercise and brain cancer: if your balance is affected, "it is a good idea to speak to a healthcare professional before starting an exercise programme", and choose activities that reduce your risk of falling [7].

For the general picture, see exercise and cancer.

Who should you see?

The cautions on this page are individual: which bones, which counts, which line, which wound. Macmillan describes a clinical exercise physiologist (CEP) as "a healthcare professional who is an expert in screening, assessing and advising what physical activity is best for you and your situation" [7]. A cancer exercise specialist is "a fitness instructor who is qualified to help people with cancer to exercise safely", often in a gym or leisure centre, and a physiotherapist "gives advice about exercise and mobility" [7]. CEPs and physiotherapists complement each other.

Your GP, cancer doctor or specialist nurse can refer you to a physiotherapist, and some areas have cancer exercise specialists or CEPs you can be referred to [7]. Our guides to your cancer rehabilitation team and the exercise professional tiers explain who does what.

Talk to your oncology team first

Speak to your cancer doctor or specialist nurse before starting if any of these apply [6][7]:

• Cancer in the bones, bone thinning, or bone pain.
• Low platelets, low white cells or anaemia during treatment.
• A central or PICC line in place.
• A recent operation, an unhealed wound or a stoma.
• Heart or lung problems, or balance problems and falls.
• You are taking blood-thinning medicine (bruising and falls are the risk).

Stop exercising and speak to a doctor straight away if you get sudden dizziness, chest pain, a racing heart, breathing problems, feeling sick, unusual back or bone pain, unusual muscle pain, or a headache that does not go away [7]. Soreness or stiffness for two to three days after exercise is common and not a reason to stop [7].

Related guides

• Cancer rehabilitation in the UK
• Exercise after cancer treatment
• Cancer-related fatigue
• Cancer FAQs

Getting matched with a specialist

At the moment The Health Nav matches people with verified clinical exercise physiologists, in person in parts of south-west London and remotely across the UK. A CEP works alongside your NHS team, not instead of it.

Request a match with a verified clinical exercise physiologist through The Health Nav. Questions first? Email support@thehealthnav.co.uk.

This article is general information and does not replace advice from your own healthcare team.

References

1. Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise Guidelines for Cancer Survivors: Consensus Statement from International Multidisciplinary Roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(11):2375-2390. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116
2. Ligibel JA, Bohlke K, May AM, et al. Exercise, Diet, and Weight Management During Cancer Treatment: ASCO Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2022;40(22):2491-2507. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00687
3. Cavalheri V, Burtin C, Formico VR, et al. Exercise training undertaken by people within 12 months of lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;(6):CD009955. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009955.pub3
4. Peddle-McIntyre CJ, Singh F, Thomas R, et al. Exercise training for advanced lung cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;(2):CD012685. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012685.pub2
5. Knips L, Bergenthal N, Streckmann F, et al. Aerobic physical exercise for adult patients with haematological malignancies. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;(1):CD009075. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009075.pub3
6. Macmillan Cancer Support. Exercising safely when you have cancer. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/preparing-for-treatment/physical-activity-and-cancer/exercising-safely (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
7. Macmillan Cancer Support. Physical activity and cancer (booklet, 6th edition, MAC12515_E06, November 2023). https://cdn.macmillan.org.uk/dfsmedia/1a6f23537f7f4519bb0cf14c45b2a629/18459-10061/mac12515-physical-activity-e06-intpdf-02 (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
8. Macmillan Cancer Support. Managing symptoms of secondary bone cancer. https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bone-cancer-secondary/managing-symptoms-of-secondary-bone-cancer (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
9. Cancer Research UK. Exercise and cancer. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/exercise-guidelines (accessed 12 Oct 2026)
10. Blood Cancer UK. Blood cancer and keeping active. https://bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/life-with-blood-cancer/living-well/keeping-active/ (accessed 15 Sep 2026)
11. Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Managing symptoms. https://roycastle.org/learn-about-lung-cancer/living-with-cancer/managing-symptoms/ (accessed 15 Sep 2026)
12. Asthma + Lung UK. How can I manage my breathlessness? https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/breathlessness/how-can-i-manage-my-breathlessness (accessed 15 Sep 2026)
13. Pancreatic Cancer UK. Diet and pancreatic cancer: support with eating and digestion. https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/information-and-support/managing-symptoms-and-side-effects/diet-and-pancreatic-cancer/ (accessed 12 Oct 2026)