Alexis Clouser<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMany survivors want to return to work,\u201d Alexis Clouser, MPH, CPH,<\/b> a PhD student in the department of epidemiology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, told Healio. \u201cThis study lays the groundwork for future public health efforts focused on quality of life and enhancing the employment experience for individuals impacted by cancer.\u201d <\/p>\nA \u2018tool\u2019 to improve employment?<\/h2>\n
Prior research has shown that cancer survivors may derive substantial benefits from employment, including better treatment adherence, reduced risk for recurrence, and improved mental and physical health, financial stability and survival, according to study background.<\/p>\n
Existing research also shows that regular physical activity can reduce cognitive impairment and fatigue, commonly reported barriers to employment.<\/p>\n
Employment can provide cancer survivors social support and a sense of normalcy, too, Clouser said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat got us thinking about employment as an outcome,\u201d she added. \u201cCould physical activity potentially be used as a tool to help cancer survivors get back to work if they want or need to? Could it help their overall work experience?\u201d<\/p>\n
Clouser and colleagues used data from the 2020, 2022 and 2024 National Health Interview Survey to investigate this association.<\/p>\n
The study included 85,586 non-institutionalized U.S. adults and 11,049 cancer survivors.<\/p>\n
The association between physical activity and employment served as the primary endpoint.<\/p>\n
Researchers defined physical activity status based on federal physical activity guidelines. They categorized patients as meeting both strength and aerobic guidelines, strength only, aerobic only, or neither.<\/p>\n
Strength and aerobic exercise \u2018critical\u2019<\/h2>\n Overall, 62% of individuals without a history of cancer reported being employed compared with only 31% of survivors.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we did hypothesize a disparity, seeing one of this magnitude confirmed the importance of this research,\u201d Clouser remarked about the difference between the two groups.<\/p>\n
Individuals without a history of cancer also met physical activity guidelines at a higher rate (25% vs. 18%).<\/p>\n
Among survivors, those who met both strength and aerobic guidelines had a significantly higher likelihood of being employed than those who did not (OR = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.02-1.4).<\/p>\n
Researchers did not observe a significant difference in employment between those who met strength- or aerobic-only guidelines and those who did not.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The data] confirmed aerobic and strength activity are both critical in terms of physical activity,\u201d Clouser said.<\/p>\n
Clouser noted study limitations, including employment being defined as having worked in the previous week.<\/p>\n
Future research could evaluate variables that may improve the employment experience for survivors, as well as other individuals with chronic conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was the first study to explore the association between employment and physical activity among cancer survivors in a large nationally representative U.S. population,\u201d Clouser said. \u201cI do believe that we have succeeded in laying a foundation for future research in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information:<\/h2>\n Alexis Clouser, MPH, CPH,<\/b> can be reached at alclouser@uams.edu.<\/p>\n\n
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Published by:<\/span>\n
Sources\/Disclosures<\/h3>\n Source: <\/h2>\n Clouser AL, et al. Abstract 5029. Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting; April 17-22, 2026; San Diego.<\/p>\n
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