Exercise and Cancer

Cancer Sucks

This has been an extremely rough week for me. I found out that two people I attended high school with (one being a good friend for many years) lost their battle to cancer within the last few days. Not surprisingly, everything cancer related in the news, conversations, and articles have grabbed my attention. For the most part, I consider myself a fairly health individual. I eat a balanced diet, I exercise 5-6 days a week , and I try engage in indulgent activities (such as enjoying a few beers) in moderation. But it seems as though many aspects of cancer are beyond our control. I want to know what we can do to proactively prevent a cancer diagnosis, or how our bodies can better recover.

Exercise May be a Key Component to Battling Cancer

Professor Kerry Courneya. from Canada's University of Alberta, is voicing a different opinion from that of most medical experts. He is advocating exercise  as a way to remain strong during chemotherapy treatments. He insists  “For many years the accepted wisdom was that you should take it easy and rest up during treatment for cancer, but the research is showing that resting makes the fatigue people suffer during treatment worse" (2015). 

Exercise, both during an after treatment, lowers over all cancer patient mortality rates.Exercise improves immune function and reduces inflammation, all of which help heal and protect the body.

Benefits of Physical Activity

Some other benefits of physical activity while receiving cancer treatments include:

• Improved balance
• Less risk of muscle atrophy
• Decreased risk of heart disease
• Increased bone strength
• Improved self-esteem
• Lessen depression risk
• Lessen nausea
• Improved quality of life

Exercise and Cancer Prevention

Nearly 1/3 of all cancer deaths are linked to a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle, mainly colon and breast cancers

Women who regularly exercise are 30-40% less likely to develop breast cancer than women who do not engage in physical activity. 

Exercise has also been found to reduce the risk of colon cancer by 40-50% as well. 

Bottom Line

While our lifestyle choices can't completely protect us from developing a debilitating disease, we have the power to make informed, healthy choices where we can.