Staying Active After Cancer Linked to Lower Medicare Costs

Older cancer survivors who were physically active after their diagnosis tended to have lower health care costs than those who were inactive, according to an American Cancer Society (ACS) study published Oct. 21, 2026, in the journal CANCER.

The study adds a financial angle to what is already known about exercise during and after cancer treatment, which has been linked to less fatigue and better quality of life.

Who the Study Included

Researchers looked at 12,268 cancer survivors aged 65 and older. They used information from the ACS Cancer Prevention Study-II, a long-running study in which participants reported their habits, including physical activity, and linked it with Medicare claims to track health care costs after a cancer diagnosis.

The researchers compared how active people were before and after their diagnosis with how much was spent on their health care after diagnosis.

What It Found

Overall, health care costs were generally lower as physical activity increased, especially among survivors whose cancer was found at an early stage.

• Early-stage cancer: Survivors who reported no physical activity had about $3,812 more in health care costs in the first year after diagnosis than survivors who met the ACS physical activity guideline.
• Cancer that had spread (regional or distant stage): Survivors who were active before diagnosis and cut back only modestly afterward had annual costs about $5,411 lower than those who were inactive both before and after diagnosis.

"It's encouraging that our findings can also add cost savings to the benefits of staying active during survivorship," lead author Dr. Erika Rees-Punia, senior principal scientist in population science at ACS, said in a news release.

What's Still Unknown

This type of study shows a link, not cause and effect. People who are able to stay active may also be healthier in other ways, such as having fewer other medical conditions or less severe side effects, which on its own would lower their costs. The study also relied on what people reported about their own activity.

The ACS announcement did not break the results down by cancer type, and it is not yet clear how much of the cost difference was due to activity itself.

How Much Activity Is Recommended

ACS guidance for cancer survivors encourages avoiding inactivity and working toward 150 to 300 minutes of moderate activity, such as brisk walking, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity each week, along with muscle-strengthening activities at least two days a week. Any amount of activity counts, and people who are in treatment or managing side effects may need to start slowly.

What It Means for You

If you are a survivor, staying as active as you safely can is linked to many benefits, and this study suggests lower health care costs may be one of them. Even if you cannot meet the full guideline, the findings suggest that holding on to some of your usual activity after diagnosis matters.

Before starting a new exercise routine, talk with your care team, especially if you have bone metastases, neuropathy, heart or lung problems, or low blood counts. Read more about how physical activity and reduced sitting are linked to better health in older adults.

Questions to Ask Your Care Team

• What kind and how much physical activity is safe for me right now?
• Are there activities I should avoid because of my cancer or treatment?
• Can you refer me to a physical therapist or an exercise program for people with cancer?
• How can I stay active while managing fatigue or other side effects?