Prescribing Movement: The Role of Women’s Fitness in Oncology With Jasmin Hundal, MD, MS, MPH

Focus on Women’s Health and Fitness in Oncology

Much of Dr. Hundal’s research and practice focus on the role of exercise and nutrition in breast cancer and beyond, and she is passionate about improving women’s outcomes through these means. “Exercise isn’t just about feeling better. We now have strong evidence that physical activity reduces incidence, recurrence, and mortality,” she explained.

How Lifestyle Impacts Risk and Survivorship

Evidence from large meta-analyses shows that physically active women have substantially lower cancer recurrence and mortality rates. “Women with higher post-diagnosis activity had 30% lower breast cancer mortality,” said Dr. Hundal, noting mechanisms from hormonal regulation to reduced inflammation. She cited recent trials such as SUCCESS-C and CHALLENGE, which demonstrated the survival benefits of structured exercise.

Barriers to Implementation

Despite proven benefits, adoption of regular exercise can be difficult. Many women juggle family, caregiving, careers, and treatment side effects. “Meeting women where they are is key—it may be just a 10-minute walk after meals rather than a rigid program,” Dr. Hundal emphasized. Personalization and feasibility matter more than generic guidelines.

Integrating Exercise into Patient Counseling

Dr. Hundal frames exercise as part of treatment, not as an optional add-on. “If we don’t bring it up, patients may never know how important exercise is,” she said. She prioritizes normalizing the conversation and linking activity to concrete quality-of-life benefits like fatigue reduction, improved sleep, and better chemotherapy tolerance.

Emerging Research in Women’s Health and Fitness

From prehabilitation interventions to studies on DNA methylation, the science is expanding rapidly. “I’m especially excited by research on exercise’s role in molecular aging pathways—it shows wellness impacts not just on symptoms, but on biology itself,” Dr. Hundal noted.

Personal Wellness as a Clinician

Even amidst the rigors of medicine, Dr. Hundal makes movement a non-negotiable habit. “I work out before clinic because I know if I leave it for later, the day will take over,” she shared, highlighting the value of small pockets of intentional movement and consistent habits.

A Call to Action

Dr. Hundal’s advice is pragmatic and empowering: avoid fads, focus on adherence, and keep consistency at the core. “Whatever you choose—walking, lifting, yoga—stick with it. Caring for ourselves enables us to take better care of others,” she concluded.

Key Takeaways

• Embed Exercise Into Oncology Conversations: Treat fitness like any other evidence-based intervention.
• Personalize Recommendations: Tailor activity to each patient’s circumstances, barriers, and goals.
• Leverage Evidence: Cite emerging data, such as survival benefits shown in the CHALLENGE trial, when counseling.
• Model Wellness: Clinicians who prioritize their own health serve as powerful role models.
• Consistency Over Perfection: Encourage achievable, sustainable changes to support both prevention and survivorship.

About Dr. Hundal

Jasmin Hundal, MD, MS, MPH, is a second-year Hematology/Oncology Fellow at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Previously, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Hundal’s main area of interest is the overlap between cardiometabolic health and cancer, particularly for breast cancer patients and survivors. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and hiking.