Cancer, Physical Activity and Exercise

Questions how physical activity and exercise can benefit you:

• How physical activity and exercise play a role in cancer prevention

• How much physical activity is sufficient to reduce cancer risk

• How physical activity can help cancer survivors

Cancers are a group of diseases each with their own risks, etiologies and pathologies. Research work shows that there is substantial evidence demonstrating that physical activity plays an important role in preventing certain cancers. A growing body of evidence supports a role for physical activity in improving cancer diagnosis and the quality of life in people who have cancer. 70% of cancers occur in adults 55 years of age and older.

Cancers are caused by both internal factors (e.g. , heredity, immune dysfunction, and abnormal metabolism) and external factors (e.g., unhealthy behaviors such as cigarette smoking, sedentary lifestyle-insufficient physical activity, excessive sun exposure and radiation exposure.

Research now demonstrates that 10-15% of cancers are linked to heredity, however a whopping 45% of cancer are related to lifestyle factors such as being overweight and obese, physical inactivity or insufficient physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns and habits, and smoking.

Heredity and Cancer

Cancers depends somewhat on genetics, however positive healthy behaviors such as being physically active, regular exercise, eating healthily, maintaining a healthy body weight can reduce the overall risk by improving functions such as circulation, breathing, digestion, energy balance, DNA reapir and immune function. How genes are expressed depends on the interaction with environmental exposure such as physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco use, poor nutrition choices, excessive sun exposue, and toxic environmental exposure.

The Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee determined that there is strong evidence linking physical activity to the prevention of cancers of the bladder, endomitrial or uterine cancer, esophagus, kidney, pancreatic, breast and stomach. The strongest evidence of a link is between physical activity and cancer of the colon and this was described as a dose-response. A dose-response means the higher the dose or level of physical activity the lower the risk for colon cancer.

How Much Physical Activity is Sufficient to Reduce Cancer Risk

Adults should engagein 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week such as walking, jogging, cycling, hiking, swimming. Muscle strengthening activities involving major muscle groups on two or more days per week. The same recommendations are for older adults. Frail and lower functioning older adults should exercise as much as tolerated.

How Physical Activity Can Help Cancer Survivors

Physical activity and exercise can reduce the risk for developing new chronic diseases, recurrence of cancer and regular participation may ofset the side effects of cancer treatment. Even during cancer treatment small to moderate gains in upper and lower body are expected. Cancer patients should consult with their oncologist to verify that their physical activity or exercise plans are consisitent with their current level of physical abilities and health status and compliment their treatment plan. Physical activity programming should be part of a cancer survivor's therapy.

Licensed Physical Therapists Erin and Erica provide Private Physical Therapy in person services to cancer patients and survivors in SW Portland Tigard, Lake Oswego, Tualatin, Wilsonville, Sherwood and Newberg. Jacqueline and Jeanette are certified ACSM/ACS Cancer Exercise Trainers (American College of Sports Medicine and the American Cancer Society) and provide in person Personal Training in SW Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, areas in NW Portland and Lake Oswego, Districts out of our service range can receive on-line or virtual exercise training.

Click on topic below to receive:

• Exerise is Medicine Cancer Exercise Guidelines

• Moving Through Cancer

• Being Active As We Get Older

• Amercian Cancer Society

References:

Foundations of Physical Activity and Public Health

ACSM