Fuller, J.T., Hartland, M.C., Maloney, L.T., & Davison, K. (2018). Therapeutic effects of aerobic and resistance exercises for cancer survivors: A systematic review of meta-analyses of clinical trials. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52, 1311.

• STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of exercises and aerobic on cancer survivors
• TYPE OF STUDY: Meta analysis and systematic review

• DATABASES USED: Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Medline
• YEARS INCLUDED: 1988-2017
• INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adult diagnosed with cancer
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Not specified

• TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 65 articles for 140 meta-analyses reported
• EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Umbrella review following PRISMA

• FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED: 65 
• TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: Not specified. Each category (cardiovascular fitness = 8,306 (55-1,310), muscle strength = 10,367 (241-1,244), fatigue = 59,233 (78-5,603), quality of life = 24,893 (78-2,357), depression = 13,538 (78-2,929); some patients are not reported in few articles.
• SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: See above in parenthesis for each category. 
• KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Different type of cancer

PHASE OF CARE: Not specified or not applicable

The effects of exercises on thousands of patients in 140 meta-analyses are reviewed. The beneficial effect is statistically significant in 75% of the meta-analyses. The effect for cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength are classified as moderate, and the effect on fatigue, quality of life, and depression are classified as small. The incidence of exercise-related adverse event is very low (3.5%). The large majority of the studied cancer population are patients with breast cancer.

The study shows how exercises have an important role in the well-being of patients and survivors. It would be interesting to have another meta-analyses on different cancer populations and at different stages of the disease/treatment. It would also be interesting to have the results by gender.

• Low sample sizes
• This study is mostly about patients with breast cancer

Nurses should encourage patients to have a physical activity. Cardiovascular markers and muscular fitness is improved with exercises as well as depression, fatigue, and quality of life to a lesser extent. In addition, it is relatively easy to find information on how to exercise.