Exercise prevents breast cancer risk
Women who participate in recreational exercises and sports over their lifetime may lower their risk of death from breast cancer
Women who participate in recreational
exercises and sports over their lifetime may lower their risk of death from
breast cancer and breast cancer recurrence.
Few studies have examined the association between physical activity and disease outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Researchers from Canada studied 1231 women (who were 54 years old on an average) diagnosed with breast
cancer to find out the association between lifetime total physical activity performed prior to diagnosis and disease outcomes in breast cancer survivors. Information regarding age, body mass index and tumour stage of all participants was collected. Assessment was made of occupational, household and recreational activity separately throughout a respondent's lifetime by recording the frequency and duration of these activities using a questionnaire. The intensity of activity was estimated by the participant as sedentary (occupational activities only), light, moderate or heavy. Total lifetime physical activity was estimated as the sum of occupational, household and recreational activity.
The researchers studied 1,231 women diagnosed with breast cancer and followed them up for a minimum period of 8 years. During follow up, 341 women died (223 from breast cancer) while 327 had a recurrence, progression, or new primary breast cancer diagnoses. It was noted that women who obtained about 4 hours or more of weekly moderate-intensity recreational activity over their lifetime had a lower risk of death from breast cancer and they also reduced their chances of recurrence, progression, or a new primary breast cancer.
Compared with the least active women (less than 1.4 hours per week of recreational activity), those who engaged in more than 4 hours per week of moderate intensity recreational activity had 34 percent lower risk for the combined outcomes, and 44 percent reduced risk for death from breast cancer. These effects remained apparent after allowing for other factors potentially associated with survival such as body mass, tumour stage and age.
However, occupational activity and physical household work such as gardening and housework did not confer benefits similar to those from lifetime exercises and sports activities.
These findings suggest that being physically active prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer improves survival with moderate intensity recreational activity having a particularly strong impact.
International Journal of Cancer
April 2009
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