| As October is National Breast Cancer Awareness | | | | already suffer from cancer of the breast. The |
| Month, it would be foolish not to address the most | | | | Alberta Cancer Board in Calgary, published a study |
| common cancer to affect women. | | | | which examined women with breast cancer over a |
| Whether a breast cancer sufferer, or not, studies | | | | period of 8.3 years. They concluded that those who |
| that span the last decade have shown that exercise | | | | participated in at least four hours per week of |
| greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. Two very | | | | moderate intensity recreational activity over their |
| clear findings emerge from various studies | | | | lifetime, were at a far lower risk of death from |
| undertaken by universities and cancer research | | | | breast cancer, in addition to the risk of its recurrence |
| centres worldwide. | | | | or progression. Granted, physical activity is no |
| Firstly, in a study conducted by the Washington | | | | substitute for medical intervention, and it might be |
| University School of Medicine in St.Louis, and Harvard | | | | the last thing that many exhausted cancer patients |
| University in Boston, researchers were pleasantly | | | | feel like doing, but it can help address the 'what can I |
| rewarded by their findings. Acknowledging proven | | | | do?' feeling of futility that affects many people when |
| research that exercise by post menopausal women | | | | diagnosed with cancer. Though housework was not |
| greatly reduced the risk of breast cancer, they | | | | considered sufficiently beneficial, the intensity of |
| sought to see if such exercise had the same benefits | | | | exercise does not have to be extreme, with brisk |
| for pre-menopausal women. The study concluded | | | | walking being enough. Again, it is thought that the link |
| that women who were physically active between the | | | | back to estrogen is the key in this study, and that |
| ages of 12-35 saw the greatest reduction in breast | | | | physical activity lowers hormone levels. That aside, |
| cancer, lowering their chances of contracting the | | | | getting out of the house and enjoying open space |
| disease by up to 23%. The findings show that regular | | | | and exercise, can be beneficial for your emotional as |
| activity was the key factor, not intensive activity. It | | | | well as physical well being. |
| is believed that through exercising frequently from | | | | It is never to late to start safeguarding you, or your |
| such a young age, females can reduce their exposure | | | | family from breast cancer. Make exercise fun and |
| to estrogen which, in high quantities, is often | | | | inclusive for all ages of your family, and reap the |
| associated with a greater risk of this form of cancer. | | | | many benefits. |
| Secondly, exercise has been shown to aid those who | | | | |