Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology 51 (2004) 249–261 Exercise issues in older cancer survivors Kerry S. Courneya ∗ , Jeffrey K.H. Vallance, Margaret L. McNeely, Kristina H. Karvinen, Carolyn J. Peddle, John R. Mackey Faculty of Physical Education, University of Alberta, E-424 Van Vliet Center, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2H9 Contents Abstract .............................................................................................. 249 1. Introduction ...................................................................................... 250 1.1. Definitions of older adult and cancer survivor .................................................. 250 1.2. Aging and cancer statistics ................................................................... 250 1.3. Definitions of physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness .................................... 250 2. Association of aging with physical and mental health ................................................. 250 3. Effects of cancer and its treatments on older cancer survivors .......................................... 251 4. Exercise benefits in older cancer survivors ........................................................... 252 4.1. Exercise benefits in older adults .............................................................. 252 4.2. Exercise benefits in cancer survivors .......................................................... 253 5. Exercise guidelines for older cancer survivors ........................................................ 256 6. Exercise motivation in older cancer survivors ........................................................ 256 7. Future research directions .......................................................................... 257 8. Clinical implications .............................................................................. 258 9. Summary and conclusions ......................................................................... 258 Acknowledgements ................................................................................... 258 References ........................................................................................... 259 Biography ............................................................................................ 261 Abstract Older cancer survivors experience the combined deleterious effects associated with aging and a cancer diagnosis. The purpose of the present paper is to review the potential role of physical exercise in attenuating the effects of cancer and its treatments in older cancer survivors. Noting the limited direct research on exercise in older cancer survivors, we review the literature on: (a) older adults in general; and (b) cancer survivors in general. We conclude that although there is limited direct evidence on the benefits of exercise in older cancer survivors, there is compelling evidence of the benefits of exercise in cancer survivors in general and other older populations. We also conclude that exercise adherence will be a significant challenge in this population. Based on this evidence, we tentatively recommend exercise to older cancer survivors using the American College of Sports Medicine’s [Med Sci Sports Exerc 30 (6) (1998) 992] guidelines for older adults in general. Finally, we offer future research directions that will provide important evidence needed to guide clinical decisions about exercise in older cancer survivors. © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Older cancer survivors; Aging; Cancer diagnosis ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 780 492 1031; fax: +1 780 492 8003. E-mail address: kerry.courneya@ualberta.ca (K.S. Courneya). 1040-8428/$ – see front matter © 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.critrevonc.2004.05.001