Exercise & colon cancerHow, why cancer is decreased with exerciseA discussion on the effects of exercise on colon cancer follows including advice on cancer prevention exercise & exercising during & post cancer treatment. Our umbrella page on cancer & exercise Current cancer patients & exercise Uterine, ovarian, endometrial & lung cancer and exercise 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
Colon cancer is a fairly common cancer in the developed world. The U.S. tabs 150,000 new cases yearly, 1/3 ending in death. While there are some risk factors beyond our control, like genetics, many are well within our control including diet, smoking & exercise. Citizens from countries with low risk of colon cancer experience sharp increases in incidence when they come to the U.S. For example, Japanese immigrants to the U.S. see death rate from colon cancer multiply four fold. The increase in colon cancer is believed to result from dietary & physical activity change. There are numerous studies on the relationship between exercise or physical activity & colon cancer. Generally studies show that with higher levels of physical activity & exercise, colon cancer goes down. The findings linked leisure time exercise and occupational physical activity. Some of the studies combined colon & rectal cancer (colorectal cancer). Those studies also found activity to reduce the chances of getting colorectal cancer. However, when rectal cancer was examined independently of colon cancer, the studies found no relationship to exercise. One of the studies on exercise colon cancer sampled Harvard graduates who entered Harvard between 1916 & 1950. The study found that the high activity group that expended 2.5 times as many calories daily as the low activity group saw a 50% reduction in colon cancer. So, for the Harvard group, exercise benefits on colon cancer basically entailed calories burned during a brisk one hour daily walk. A Swedish study found men who had a physically demanding job to have a lower risk of colon cancer than men in sedentary jobs. The benefits of physical activity on colon cancer was a reduction of about 30%. Better yet, When occupational activity was combined with leisure time exercise colon cancer was decreased 70%. The studies do not make clear what types of exercises or physical activity are most beneficial in preventing colon cancer. Why does physical activity, exercise reduce colon cancer?
* Physical activity reduces insulin levels. Higher insulin levels can initiate or promote cancer cell growth.* Physical activity also effects other complex growth factors that are related to cancer cell growth. * Obesity is linked to cancer. Physical activity helps keep weight down. * Physical activity speeds up intestinal transit time of wastes. The wastes are thought to host cancer causing materials. Ridding the body of these wastes as soon as possible rids the body of cancerous materials as soon as possible. * Exercise & activity also strengthens the immune system which plays a vital role in killing cancer cells. * Finally, exercise results in numerous psycho-physical processes that decreases stress. Stress has often been linked to all kinds of health problems including cancer. Benefits of exercise on colon cancerThe American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) cites the following benefits for exercising during cancer treatment.* keep or improve your physical abilities * better balance, lower risk of falls and broken bones * keep muscles from wasting due to inactivity * lower risk of heart disease * less risk of osteoporosis (weak bones that are more likely to break) * better blood flow to legs and lower risk of blood clots * less dependence on others to do normal activities of daily living * improved self-esteem * lower risk of anxiety and depression * less nausea * better ability to keep social contacts * fewer symptoms of fatigue * better weight control * improved quality of life How much to exercise to reduce colon cancer risk?Exercise should start at the mild level & progressively move to 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 colon cancer can, & should, exercise. Once cancer has formed, exercise is not believed to help cure it. The benefits listed above are side effects, very good ones. Caution: while exercise is usually beneficial, if it is too intense it may actually spur and/or spread various cancers. The best advice would be to engage in moderate exercise for cancer prevention, treatment and afterward. 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. See our pages on specific topics regarding exercise especially strength, flexibility, aerobics, Pilates & yoga, by going to the navigation bar on page left.
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