Regular exercise not only helps prevent cancer, but can also reduce the chance of it spreading, research shows
Regular exercise not only helps prevent cancer but may also reduce the chance of it spreading, new research suggests.
Those who were active in the 12 months before cancer diagnosis reduced the risk of progression by more than a quarter.
Researchers say there is ‘compelling evidence’ that physical activity plays a key role in lowering the risk of death from the disease, alongside conventional treatments.
They studied 28,248 people with stage one cancer between 2007 and 2022, of which breast and prostate cancer were the most common.
Activity levels were recorded using fitness equipment, recorded gym sessions and participation in organized fitness events.
The level of physical activity in the 12 months prior to diagnosis was categorized as no physical activity, low (less than 60 minutes per week) and moderate to high physical activity of more than 60 minutes per week.
It showed that 62 percent of patients recorded no exercise, 13 percent low and 25 percent participated at moderate or high levels.
Cancer worsened in about a third of patients (34.5 percent) and almost two in ten (19 percent) had died by the end of the study period.
Researchers say there is ‘compelling evidence’ that physical activity plays a key role in lowering the risk of death from cancer (file image)
Those who were active in the 12 months before cancer diagnosis reduced the risk of progression by more than a quarter (file image)
Researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, found that those who did little exercise reduced the risk of cancer progression by 16 percent compared to those who did no physical activity.
This rose further to 27 percent among people with moderate to high levels of exercise, according to the findings published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Similarly, the risk of death from any cause was a third (33 percent) lower among those who had done some exercise and 47 percent lower among those who had achieved moderate to high levels of exercise, compared with those who had done no exercise at all. had recorded physical injuries. .
Two years after diagnosis, the odds of no disease progression among those who had not recorded physical activity in the year before diagnosis was 74 percent, compared with 78 and 80 percent for those in the low and moderate to high groups, respectively.
Although the likelihood of disease progression increased as time went on, it was still lower for those who had achieved a certain level of physical activity in the year prior to their diagnosis.
Researchers suggested that public health guidelines should “encourage individuals to engage in physical activity not only to prevent cancer, but also to reduce the risk of cancer progression.”
They added: ‘Physical activity can be considered to provide substantial benefits in terms of progression and overall mortality for people diagnosed with cancer.
‘In a world where cancer continues to pose a significant public health burden, promoting physical activity can provide important benefits regarding cancer progression, prevention and treatment.’