Cancer
Walking may lower cardiovascular death risk for women with cancer history
Among postmenopausal women with a history of cancer, taking more daily steps and engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were both associated with a significantly reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
Cancer survivors are at an increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to a 2019 scientific statement from the Association. The statement also noted that exercise training is an essential part of cardiac rehabilitation and recovery after cancer treatment, and that exercise therapy can help to reduce cardiovascular toxicity during cancer treatment.
“Encouraging cancer survivors to be more active, sit less and take more steps every day could be a feasible approach for prolonging survivorship and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality,” said lead study author Eric Hyde, a research analyst at the University of California, San Diego.
“Our study helps us to better understand potential physical activity behaviours of postmenopausal women in relation to cancer survival.”
Researchers examined physical activity data from the Women’s Health Accelerometry Collaboration, a study combining two observational studies exploring the relationship among physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cancer incidence and death.
They assessed the potential associations of physical activity and sedentary behaviour with death from cardiovascular disease or all-cause mortality (death from any cause).
The study followed for about eight years nearly 2,500 post-menopausal women between the ages of 63 and 99 years. The analysis included participants diagnosed with breast or other cancers at least one year before enrolling in the studies.
Participants wore an accelerometer on the hip for at least 10 hours per day for up to one week. The device recorded daily physical activity, including light physical activity, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, total physical activity and step counts. It also recorded sedentary behavior including total sitting time during awake hours.
After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, various lifestyle and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, cancer type and years since cancer diagnosis, the study found that more daily steps and more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity were associated with a progressively lower risk of all-cause mortality; that the greatest benefit was seen among participants who logged 5,000–6,000 steps per day, and their risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 40 per cent; and, each additional 2,500 steps per day was also incrementally associated with a 34 per cent reduction in risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
It also found that the greatest benefit from moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was seen among participants with at least one hour per day, which reduced all-cause mortality risk by 40% and cardiovascular disease mortality risk by 60 per cent. However, significant reductions in risk were also evident at amounts far below one hour per day, researchers noted.
Furthermore, every 102-minutes of sitting time per day was associated with a 12 per cent increased risk of all-cause mortality and a 30 per cent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
“Risk reductions were even evident when participants walked fewer than 5,000 steps per day, half of the often touted 10,000 steps per day threshold,” Hyde said.
“Daily steps are an important measure because they are easily understood by the public, can be at any intensity level and are recorded on wearable devices like smartwatches that are increasingly being worn by all.”
Keith Diaz, the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, noted that the study’s findings add to the understanding of how to manage health and promote longevity after a cancer diagnosis.
“While structured exercise remains the most efficient and effective way to improve your health, these findings highlight that walking – at any intensity – matters. The road to an active lifestyle is more accessible than we often assume, and the benefits are available to everyone, including people navigating life after cancer,” said Diaz, who was not involved in the study.
“Another key takeaway from this study is the impact of sedentary time. Many adults now spend the majority of their day sitting, not engaged in physical activity, and for cancer survivors, this issue is likely even more pronounced due to the physical toll of cancer treatment and recovery. These findings add to the growing body of evidence that prolonged sitting is a significant health risk—one that we must actively combat, particularly after a cancer diagnosis.”
Only one per cent of women can name all five gynaecological cancers, new research suggests, as 21 women in the UK die every day of the diseases.
The report also found that 31 per cent of women have put off or avoided seeking medical advice for gynaecological symptoms.
It also found that 43 per cent of women invited for cervical screening said barriers had put them off attending, while 18 per cent of respondents aged 25 to 34 who had been invited had never attended.
The five main gynaecological cancers are womb, also called uterine, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal cancer.
The Lady Garden Foundation said that, while progress has been made since the UK government’s 2022 Women’s Health Strategy aimed to improve gynaecological cancer care, significant challenges remain.
John Butler, medical director and trustee at the Lady Garden Foundation, said: “The fact that only one per cent of the population can name the diseases that directly affect half of us underscores a significant awareness gap, impacting individuals’ ability to recognise vital signs and symptoms or seek timely medical help.
“Addressing this isn’t just about awareness; it’s a critical public health priority. Our collective efforts are essential to ensure the latest commitments announced by this government translate into tangible change that saves lives.”
The report said key reasons for delaying medical advice included difficulty making appointments, embarrassment and, for cervical screening, fear of pain or previous bad experiences.
Women also reported challenges within healthcare interactions, including feeling “not taken seriously”, “dismissed” or “not believed” when seeking gynaecological advice.
Jenny Halpern Prince, chief executive and charity co-founder, said: “We frequently hear reports of women feeling ‘not taken seriously,’ ‘dismissed,’ or ‘not believed’ when seeking gynaecological advice.
“These experiences highlight crucial areas where we can improve patient support and trust within our healthcare system, ensuring women receive the empathetic and effective care they need.”
The Lady Garden Foundation said it aims to increase awareness of both the charity and the five gynaecological cancers.
It also aims to serve as a primary entry point for reliable, stigma-free information, helping people understand their bodies, recognise symptoms and overcome barriers to accessing care.
Its Silent No More Garden was unveiled at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026. Designed by Darren Hawkes, the garden serves as a national call to action, using five sculptures to spark conversations, break long-standing taboos and encourage open dialogue about symptoms and preventative care.
Butler said: “Continued focus and collaborative action are essential to progress.
“The ongoing commitment from the government, alongside societal efforts to break down taboos surrounding gynaecological health, are crucial.
“The Lady Garden Foundation is dedicated to being a beacon of information and support, empowering women with the knowledge they need. We urge everyone to learn the signs, speak up, and help us save lives.”
AI could transform ovarian care by personalising cancer and fertility treatment, but more clinical validation is needed before routine use.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found AI models showed high diagnostic accuracy for ovarian cancer when combining data such as ultrasound scans and blood test results.
Across 81 studies, AI models correctly identified ovarian cancer in around nine out of 10 cases, with pooled rates of 89 to 94 per cent.
They were also highly accurate at ruling out ovarian cancer when it was not present, with specificity of 85 to 91 per cent.
The analysis also found that explainable AI tools could predict complete surgical cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer.
Complete surgical cytoreduction means removing all visible cancer during surgery, which can be an important goal in treatment planning.
The tools achieved a pooled AUC of 0.87. AUC is a measure of how well a model distinguishes between different outcomes, with higher scores showing stronger performance.
In reproductive medicine, AI algorithms helped physicians optimise ovarian stimulation protocols and predict follicular growth during IVF.
Ovarian stimulation is the use of hormones to encourage the ovaries to produce eggs, while follicles are the small sacs in the ovaries where eggs develop.
The review found AI could reliably model ovarian response in IVF with a pooled AUC of 0.81.
However, researchers said challenges remain in translating promising research findings into routine clinical practice.
They identified substantial variation across studies, driven by retrospective study designs, variable AI systems and a lack of standardised validation.
Only 22 per cent of analysed studies reported prospective, multicentre external validation, where models are tested forward in time across multiple healthcare settings.
The authors called for rigorous validation to help close the gap between research and routine clinical practice, alongside standardised methodological and reporting frameworks, smooth integration with clinical workflow and robust governance to support responsible and ethical AI use.
They concluded: “Artificial intelligence is a transformative force in the management of ovarian conditions.
“In gynaecologic oncology, AI enhances every phase of care, from early detection and accurate diagnosis to prognostic stratification and surgical planning.”
In reproductive medicine, AI personalises ovarian stimulation and refines the diagnosis of heterogenous endocrine disorders such as PCOS.
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a hormonal condition that can affect periods, skin, weight and fertility.
Femtech World is delighted to reveal the shortlist for this year’s Women’s Cancer Innovation award.
The award, sponsored by Endomag, will honour a groundbreaking innovation dedicated to the prevention, early detection treatment or ongoing care of cancers that uniquely or disproportionately affect women.
Endomag is a medical technology company devoted to improving the global standard of cancer care.
Its Sentimag system, Magseed marker and Magtrace lymphatic tracer are used by thousands of the world’s leading physicians and cancer centres.
After careful review of this year’s submissions, we are delighted to announce the three shortlisted entries for the Women’s Cancer Innovation Award 2026.
Auria is tackling one of the most stubborn problems in breast cancer screening: the 66 per cent of women who simply don’t participate.
Rather than improving existing imaging pathways, Auria is creating an entirely new access layer: a non-invasive, at-home test that detects protein biomarkers for breast cancer in tears.
Auria’s test, a CLIA-certified Lab Developed Test, has been validated across more than 2,000 patients in multiple clinical studies with collaborators including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Stanford University.
It reports a sensitivity of 93 per cent and a negative predictive value of 98 per cent.
Founded on six years of combined research at the University of Barcelona and UC Irvine, The Blue Box has developed a non-invasive, urine-based test that detects breast cancer by analysing volatile organic compound (VOC) signatures – no radiation, no compression, no imaging facility required.
The test achieves a sensitivity of 88.42 per cent, outperforming mammography by 15 per cent overall, and by 30 per cent specifically in women with dense breasts.
The technology could function as a first-line screening tool in primary care settings, as a complement to mammography for high-density patients, or as an accessible alternative in healthcare systems where imaging infrastructure is limited.
Celbrea is a disposable and affordable thermal screening device that empowers women of all ages to stay on top of monitoring their breast health.
The device aims to add to doctors’ existing standard evaluation protocols with a quick, painless examination. Celbrea does not replace a mammogram but simply provides an additional way to screen for breast disease, including breast cancer.
The device consisting of two disposable pads with photochromic sensors. The pads are self-applied to each breast for 15 minutes.
1188 nano-sensors are embedded within a biocompatible multilayer pad, accurately measuring any temperature differences on the surface of the breast using liquid crystal thermographic technology.
What happens next
The shortlisted entries will now be judge by an Endomag representative who will reveal the winner at a virtual awards event on June 19.
Winners will receive a trophy and will be interviewed by a Femtech World journalist.
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