Reducing breast cancer with exerciseHow, why exercise lowers breast cancerA discussion on the breast cancer & exercise follows including advice on prevention of breast cancer & exercise during cancer treatment.
Our umbrella page on cancer & exercise Current cancer patients & exercise Uterine, ovarian, endometrial & lung cancer and exercise Also, please visit our sister sites for more valuable information on how water intake affects cancer formation & using herbs to prevent or treat cancer. Click for role of dehydration, water intake & more facts about cancer Click for more on cancer herbs The role of exercise on various types of cancer risk has not been well researched. However, there have been several studies on the effects of exercise on breast cancer. While a few studies show mixed results most studies suggest there are strong positive benefits of exercise on breast cancer. Important breast cancer factsBreast cancer develops much more frequently in women than men. This suggests that female hormones play an important role in breast cancer formation.
Breast cancer also varies between nations. For example, breast cancer rates are almost seven times higher in the U.S. than in Asia.
When women migrate from countries with low breast cancer rates to the U.S., Canada or Australia, breast cancer rates for those women spike upwards. For example, breast cancer rates for first generation Japanese-American women is seven times higher than that of older women living in Japan.
This points to a dietary, environmental & lifestyle effects on breast cancer formation. However, the specifics are not well understood & many experts disagree regarding he specific effects of diet & lifestyle on breast cancer formation. Studies on breast cancer & exerciseAnimal studies show exercise reduces breast cancer death rates. For example, a study of rats showed exercise reduced chemically-caused breast cancer. Certainly, animal studies aren’t conclusive but this finding is intriguing, suggestive & promising
On the human side, death records for approximately 25,000 women in Washington showed that women who worked in physically demanding jobs had low breast cancer rates.
Another study of almost 7,000 women showed that vigorous exercisers cut breast cancer rates in half.
Still another study of non-athletes showed hey had an 86 percent greater chance of contracting breast cancer than former female athletes.
A study from the University of Southern California suggested that exercising almost 4 hours per week reduced breast cancer rates in half.
Another large scale study from Norway showed a 52% reduction in cancer for women who performed manual labor.
Still another study showed that breast cancer rates for lean women who exercised regularly was a whopping 72%!
Generally, for breast cancer, exercise reduced risk between 10 - 70% with an average decrease of 30 - 40%. Why does exercise decrease breast cancer ?Weight gain seems to be an important factor in breast cancer. This is because weight gain increases insulin levels & higher blood insulin levels promote breast cancer cells. Exercise reduces breast cancer rates by keeping obesity away.
We also know that exposure to female hormones increases breast cancer risk. So experiencing a delayed menarche & missing menstrual cycles reduces the risk of breast cancer. Exercise results in both a delayed menarche & the missing of menstrual cycles.
The effects of physical activity in reducing breast cancer are seen in pre & post menopausal women. However, exercise benefits are especially important in postmenopausal women because exercise helps keep weight down which, in turn, reduces breast cancer risk. Best exercise tips for breast cancer
Exercising against breast cancer should start at the mild level & become progressively more intense levels. The key is not to let the exercise overtax your physical or psychological system.
However, if you have any health issues, consult with qualified medical professional before starting an exercise program.
Under professional guidance, patients going through treatment for breast cancer, exercise should be a high priority. But especially for breast cancer patients, exercise should be moderate.
Once cancer has formed, exercise is not believed to help cure it. However, there are many side benefits that exercise lends, so do it.
Caution: while exercise is usually beneficial, if it is too intense it may actually spur and/or spread various cancers.
The best advice to reduce risk of breast cancer & even during treatment for breast cancer exercise should be moderate and consistent.
However, for prevention of breast cancer, it seems that moderate to vigorous exercise is most effective.
Exercise on most days, between 20 - 50 minutes. Include strength training, flexibility exercises & holistic programs such as Pilates or yoga to round out your exercise program. The total of weekly exercise should range between 2 - 5 hours of exercise.
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