Did you know exercise might help to keep cancer away?
Well, a team led by Dr. Justin Brown from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center found out that being physically active can prevent cancer from coming back, particularly colon cancer.
Breakthrough in the Battle Against Cancer
In a study they carried out with patients who had stage III colon cancer, they found something amazing. Those who were active after their treatment were less likely to have their cancer return within the first year.
This, in turn, meant they lived longer. This exciting news was shared in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The Future of Cancer Care
This new discovery might change the way doctors look after people who’ve had cancer. It shows how exercise can improve life after cancer in a way that’s directly linked to how tumors work and how cancer care is given.
This could be especially helpful for patients wondering when the best time to start exercising is to lower their chances of cancer coming back.
A Timely Discovery
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, making these findings even more important. Dr. Justin Brown, who’s the head of the Cancer Metabolism Program at Pennington Biomedical, had a personal connection to this research.
His father died from metastatic colorectal cancer at age 48, strengthening his commitment to help cancer survivors live longer, healthier lives.
How They Did It
Between June 2010 and November 2015, the team observed 1,696 patients from 654 cancer centers in the United States and Canada.
They asked these patients to report how much they moved around during and after their chemotherapy.
The Results
What they found was heartening. Those who were active had a lower rate of cancer returning compared to those who were less active.
This benefit lasted for about a year after their surgery, and the overall survival benefit of being active lasted for about three years after surgery.
The Benefits of Being Active
We know that exercise is safe for cancer survivors and even recommended during chemotherapy. The study showed that moving around more soon after surgery offered larger benefits.
Previous studies also showed that being active during chemotherapy improved quality of life and reduced tiredness. Plus, long-term benefits of exercise include a lower risk of heart disease.
A Win for Biomedical Research
Dr. John Kirwan, the Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical, praised Dr. Brown and his team.
He said that their work was leading the way in research for cancer and metabolic diseases, not just in Louisiana, but beyond as well.
If you care about cancer, please see recent studies about new ways to increase the longevity of cancer survivors, and results showing new ways to supercharge cancer-fighting T cells.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing that vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
The study was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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