Even moderate exercise could help reduce death risk after breast cancer

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In a study from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, scientists found that even moderate physical activity may help reduce the death risk for breast cancer survivors.

They conducted a study of 315 older breast cancer survivors who received their initial diagnosis at least two years earlier.

Participants were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer between 1996 and 2012. Using two validated questionnaires, participants reported their leisure-time physical activity and fatigue.

The researchers found that 45 participants (14.3%) died due to any cause during a follow-up of 8.7 years, including five who died due to breast cancer.

The mortality rates increased in people with insufficient activity. Those who were active or moderately active had a much lower risk for death compared with insufficiently active people.

These findings further suggest that survivorship care plans should consider incorporating physical activity because even moderate activity may be vital for extending survival as well as health-related quality of life

The findings have implications for patient counseling on the benefits of exercise with regard to cancer outcomes, and this protection persists even after considering cancer treatments in the analysis.

If you care about breast cancer, please read studies about a major cause of deadly breast cancer, and how to lower your risk of breast cancer recurrence.

For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about drug combo that may stop the spread of cancer, and results showing vitamin D supplements strongly reduces cancer death.

The study was conducted by Lie Hong Chen et al and published in JAMA Network Open.

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