Exercise Helps to Shrink Tumors & Combat Cancer

Exercise has the potential to greatly reduce your odds of developing cancer, to improve your chances of successful recuperation, and to diminish your risk of cancer recurrence.

It appears that both men and women who exercise during their early years, have a lower risk of cancer later on in life.

Exercise should be done in moderation. There is a Goldilocks Zone, or a sweet spot for the ideal amount exercise. Excessive exercise can cause its own set of issues, but most Americans are far from being at risk from over-exercising.

According to a 2003 paper, which was published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise; "More than 100 epidemiologic studies on the role of physical activity and cancer prevention have been published."

Exercise Improves Cancer Survival Rates & Cuts Recurrence:

Should you end up with cancer, don’t fall for the old myth that rest is the best medicine. On the contrary, exercise has been shown to significantly boost your chances of recovery and survival.

A 2005 Harvard study found that breast cancer patients who exercised moderately for three to five hours a week, lowered their odds of dying from cancer by about half, compared to sedentary patients.

Exercise has also been shown to minimize the side effects of conventional cancer therapy and to improve cancer patients’ quality of life.

Some cancer organizations now promote exercise as part of standard cancer care, although this information has yet to fully filter down into general oncology. For example, Johns Hopkins encourages cancer patients to exercise for 2.5 hours per week.

Exercise also lowers your odds of cancer recurrence once you’ve successfully recuperated. A study published in 2012 found that breast and colon cancer patients who exercised regularly, had half the recurrence rate compared to non-exercisers.

Exercise Combats Cancer in Many Ways:

A study in the British Medical Journal, found that exercise affects several biological functions that may directly influence your cancer risk, including changes in energy balance, immune function, antioxidant defense, DNA repair and hormone levels.

Exercise can help to lower your blood sugar levels and normalize your insulin sensitivity, which creates an environment which is less conducive to cancer growth, since cancer thrives on sugar.

Exercise also helps you shed excess fat and to maintain a healthy weight . Obesity is responsible for an estimated 500,000 cancer cases worldwide each year. The link between obesity and cancer is primarily hormone-driven, as fat cells produce excess estrogen.

This also helps to explain why exercise during childhood, reduces your lifetime cancer risk and why obese children are at a significantly heightened risk of cancer in their adult years.

Read More