Moving Through Cancer

Published on: 01/19/26

Arash Asher, MD

Dr. Arash Asher has served as the Director of Cancer Survivorship & Rehabilitation at Cedars-Sinai Cancer since 2008. He is a specialist in the physical and rehabilitative care of cancer survivors, with a focus on helping patients manage the lingering effects of cancer and its treatments. Dr. Asher has developed numerous innovative programs to enhance physical, psychological, and spiritual resilience among cancer survivors. He completed his residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at UCLA and a cancer rehabilitation fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

Presentation Summary:

In his presentation, Dr. Asher outlines the extensive physical, psychological, and social challenges faced by survivors—including fatigue, neuropathy, depression, cognitive decline, and body image issues—and presents exercise as a critical tool to combat these effects. Drawing on clinical evidence, he explains how exercise influences cancer biology through mechanisms like cytokine reduction and myokine production, enhancing both immune function and neuroplasticity. He emphasizes evidence-based guidelines recommending at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise and twice-weekly strength training. Dr. Asher’s key message is that integrating personalized, safe exercise prescriptions into survivorship care can significantly improve quality of life, reduce recurrence risk, and promote long-term health in cancer survivors.