| Exercise is well recognized as being a factor which | | | | 15% and 22% die before 5 years. If physical activity |
| can reduce the risk of cancer by an average of | | | | cuts those figures in half then you might think that |
| about 30-40%, with some cancers being reduced by | | | | some 7% to 11% of those who get breast cancer |
| up to 70% in some studies. But what is the situation | | | | could live to that 5-year mark. But it isn't that simple - |
| with people who already have cancer? Can exercise | | | | the reduction is actually 50% of the low exercisers |
| help to reduce the risk of recurrence or even death? | | | | not 50% of the whole group. This should however |
| There are studies which indicate this is the case in | | | | be compared with the 1.5% impact of chemotherapy |
| breast and colon cancers and possibly others as well. | | | | on the 5-year survival rate. Exercise is five to eight |
| A study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in | | | | times better for low exercisers than the expensive |
| 2006 showed that the impact of physical activity on | | | | side-effect causing chemotherapy. |
| established disease was considerable. They looked at | | | | In stage III colon cancer the 5-year survival rate is |
| patients with Stage III colon cancer, which is colon | | | | 30% - 60% depending on where I get my figures |
| cancer that had spread to the nodes, and who had | | | | again. A 50% reduction in the death and recurrence |
| surgery to remove the cancer. | | | | rate is much more dramatic. But again remember that |
| The researchers compared those who exercised | | | | it is a 50% reduction in the low exercise group, so |
| least (less than, say one hour of exercise per week | | | | we cannot say we can cut the death rate in half - it |
| where they got to the point of sweating) to those | | | | might be a 10-20% reduction if a third of people are |
| who did more than 6 hours of mild to moderate | | | | inactive. But do compare this with the impact of |
| exercise. | | | | adjuvant chemotherapy, which is about 1-2% |
| Those who did more than 6 hours of physical activity | | | | improvement on the 5-year survival rate of colon |
| had about half the risk of recurrence of the cancer | | | | cancer according to the unemotional medical literature. |
| or death from any cause over the follow-up period | | | | But regardless of how you slice and dice the figures |
| when compared to those who did not undertake | | | | these studies show that in two cancers, at least, |
| regular physical activity. This is substantial. | | | | exercise has a very positive effect. So to improve |
| A similarly positive story is shown in a study of | | | | your health, just do it. |
| women with breast cancer. Women with stage I, II, | | | | It is important to remember that in order to |
| and III breast cancer were included in the study. | | | | maximize the positive outcomes any exercise should |
| These women were followed for 26 years as part of | | | | be enjoyable - not the grit your teeth and get it |
| a major health study looking at many factors. The | | | | done despite the pain, but something you want to go |
| findings were that exercise reduced total deaths, | | | | back to time and again. Life is too short at any time |
| deaths from breast cancer and recurrence from | | | | to spend hours weekly doing exercise in grim gyms |
| breast cancer by 40-50%. | | | | or walking round and round a boring block of |
| Now bear with me a little bit because we have to | | | | residential housing. Go find a place and activity you |
| talk numbers. These 50% figures are indicating that | | | | enjoy. |
| approximately half the deaths wouldn't occur in | | | | Positive experiences can be measured in the immune |
| non-exercisers. For those with breast cancer this isn't | | | | system, so organize physical activity that is fun to do |
| as great a figure as for colon cancer. | | | | and you will get a double whammy - the positive |
| In breast cancer the 5-year survival rate is 78% - | | | | impact of exercise and the input of positive emotions |
| 85% in Australia, depending on where I get my | | | | that are known to improve your body's immune |
| figures from. This means that somewhere between | | | | system. |