How Does Exercise Combat Cancer?

According to a study published online by JAMA Oncology, (Oncology is the study and treatment of tumours); cancer is a leading cause of death in the United States. I have heard a lot of folks say that, man must die of something someday, and a part of me agrees with this notion to a reasonable extent. But permit me to tweak that thought a little, yes man must die of something, but better-this man dies of something worth dying for, than die a wasteful death. A death without fulfilling purpose is a wasteful death! A wasteful death is what most of us invite when we begin to live a lifestyle that puts our body or body organs at risk.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer is at an alarming stage all over the world, in Africa and even in Nigeria, where the disease is most prevalent. Available statistics from (WHO) show that cancer killed 7.6 million persons in 2008 worldwide. Again, same report admits that cancer accounts for 13 percent of all deaths registered globally and 70 percent of that figure occurs in middle and low income countries.

In Nigeria, about 10,000 cancer deaths are recorded annually while 250,000 new cases are recorded yearly. Again, 17 percent of African countries are said to HAVE SUFFICIENTLY FUNDED cancer control programmes, while less than half of all countries in the world have FUNCTIONAL PLANS to prevent the disease and provide treatment and care to patients.

I know a couple of folks that narrated a story on how the deadly cancer claimed the lives of their loved ones according to medical diagnosis—it would just be unfair to mention names here, but a lot of us feel, cancer is a type of illness that only certain folks are susceptible to. To make matter worst is that we don’t do regular check-ups to know the status of our health amidst our many reckless lifestyles, knowing that early detection is safer than cure!

JAMA Network Journals in a recent study reveals that a large proportion of cancer cases and deaths could be prevented if people quit smoking, avoided heavy drinking, maintained a BMI (Body Mass Index) between 18.5 and 27.5, and got moderate weekly exercise for at least 150 minutes or vigorous exercise for at least 75 minutes. Mark the word above, PREVENTED, not CURE.

In another study on the role of exercise in combatting cancer; a healthy lifestyle pattern was defined as never smoking, no or moderate drinking of alcohol (one or less drink a day for women and  two or less drinks a day for men); BMI of at least 18.5 but lower than 27.5; and weekly aerobic physical activity of at least 150 minutes (i.e. 2hour, 30mins) moderate intensity or 75 minutes (i.e.1hour 15mins) vigorous intensity. The individuals who met these conditions in the study were considered low risk to cancer and everyone else who didn’t was high risk.

That said, regular exercise decreases cancer risk and that’s a well-known fact between medical practitioners. That includes the lung, endometrial, colon, and possibly prostate cancer.

Exercise plays a major role in the recovery stage for a patient who has been treated of cancer and helps in reducing the lingering effects of both the disease and its treatment.

Also in the treatment phase, the type and frequency of exercise needed to enhance recovery in early-survival stage of cancer is unknown. What is becoming clear, however, is that low-intensity exercise typically provides little relief from insulin resistance, adiposity, and excessive inflammation, all of which are considered related to the advancement of many common cancers.

In a Canadian study where 82 women enrolled within 4 to 12 weeks of surgery for early-stage breast cancer, they were randomly asked to exercise, the exercise program consisted of 30 minutes of moderate walking, 20 minutes of upper and lower body strength training, and 10 minutes of stretching, all done twice a week for 18 months. Adherence through the 18-month period was 79%. Although a significant improvement in the 6-Minute Walk Test was reported in the exercise group, but no benefit was seen in other parameters, such as quality of life or cancer cure.

This study demonstrated that not all exercise is beneficial for cancer survivor patients. Physicians on the other hand still have little to guide patients on when deciding what exercise type to prescribe for them. As different modalities have already been applied; ranging from walking to weight lifting, stationary cycling, tai chi, and jogging, it then highlights that there is even need for more orderly assessment of exercise modalities to prescribe to patients with different kind of cancer types in future researches.

Finally, this report revealed that patients undergoing treatments, e.g., rehabilitation, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, for maybe breast cancer, may have their conditions interfere with the need for exercise. Life-saving chemotherapy drugs can leave survivors with peripheral neuropathy the study says. Therefore the resulting pain and numbness in this process can affect both the ability and the desire to exercise in cancer patients!

In conclusion, Plato (427–347 BC) said and I quote, “lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and orderly physical exercise save it and preserve it.”

As a society, we can avoid the procrastination induced by thoughts that new medical discovery is needed to make major gains against cancer, while there is still hope for that, we must embrace the opportunity we already have and that is, implementing effective PREVENTION strategies through exercise; and changing our lifestyles. It is these efforts that will be our fastest return in ensuring that cancer is a sickness that has no place in us.

Sources: www.cancernetwork.com, The JAMA Network Journals, www.sciencedaily.com.