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ISEO – Inaugural Conference July 22nd & 23rd 2026 - organized by DKFZ

22–23 Jul 2026
Heidelberg Congress Center
Europe/Berlin timezone

Organizing Team

Four Cochrane reviews on different exercise types for fatigue in people with cancer

23 Jul 2026, 12:25
5m
Heidelberg Congress Center ( Heidelberg Congress Center )

Heidelberg Congress Center

Heidelberg Congress Center

Czernyring 20 69115 Heidelberg Germany
1 - Scientific Poster Thematic Poster Session

Speaker

Carina Wagner

Description

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most prevalent and severe symptom experienced among cancer patients. It impacts both physical and mental well-being and is not relieved by rest. Research indicates that exercise may improve CRF.

Methods: We conducted four Cochrane systematic reviews to assess the impact of three exercise modalities (i.e., cardiovascular training (CT), resistance training (RT), yoga) on CRF and secondary outcomes in people with cancer before, during, after anticancer therapy with short-, medium- and long-term follow up. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with structured training, at least five sessions, and face-to-face instruction. We followed standard Cochrane methodology, utilized the Cochrane Risk of Bias 1 tool for bias assessment and the GRADE approach for certainty assessments. Data were pooled by follow-up period; results were meta-analysed where applicable.

Results: We searched 8 databases including CENTRAL and MEDLINE up to October 2023. Our search yielded 7182 records, of which we included 71 RCTs across all reviews. Most studies examined breast cancer patients.
No included studies evaluated exercise before anticancer therapy. During anticancer therapy, findings indicate that CT and RT may reduce short-term CRF (moderate certainty). Results for yoga and CT versus RT remain uncertain (very low certainty). After anticancer therapy, findings indicate a positive effect of yoga on short-term CRF (moderate certainty). Evidence for CT, RT an CT versus RT was uncertain. For medium- and long-term CRF, evidence was uncertain during and after anticancer therapy for all exercise modalities.

Discussion: The reviews identified a lack of evidence on exercise before anticancer therapy and on safety outcomes. Evidence on haematological malignancies is severely underrepresented. Furthermore, there is a lack of reporting on whether a fatigue diagnosis had already been made before the intervention starts.

Keywords

exercise, cancer, cancer-related fatigue

Abstract submitters declaration yes
Conflict of Interest & Ethical Approval yes

Author

Carina Wagner

Co-authors

Ms Annika Oeser (Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit Germany/UK, Cochrane Haematology, Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Freerk Baumann (Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Ina Monsef (Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit Germany/UK, Cochrane Haematology, Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Joachim Wiskemann (Medical Oncology, University Hospital and National Center for Tumor Diseases Heidelberg, a partnership between DKFZ and University Medical Center Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany) Nicole Skoetz (Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit Germany/UK, Cochrane Haematology, Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Nora Cryns (Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit Germany/UK, Cochrane Haematology, Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Paul Bröckelmann (Department I of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Robert W Scherer (Delaware, Ohio, USA) Sarah Messer (Cochrane Evidence Synthesis Unit Germany/UK, Cochrane Haematology, Institute of Public Health Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany) Shiraz I Mishra (University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) Ulrike Holtkamp (German Leukemia & Lymphoma Patients' Association, Bonn, Germany)

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