Exercise prevents future cancers in survivors, says study

I'm pretty certain that all of us out here on this forum and other cancer forums understand the importance of exercise.  I just came across an article that talks about a soon to be published study that provides data on how exercise can help prevent cancer recurrence. 

The new study has yet to be published but is being featured at the Integrative Biology of Exercise VI meeting being held currently, October 10-13 in Westminster, Colorado.

Articles prempting the actual publishing of this study state that volunteers' immune cells changed from a senescent form to a naive form, meaning a form that is not very effective at fighting cancer to one that is.  Here is a link to an article on Medical News Today that provides more details on this:  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/251415.php

My buddy Casey has been promoting this for some time, and it appears that this study will provide more details on this very important topic.

 

EagleKeeper (cool handle by the way!), from the research I've done, yes, BMI is also a factor in overall health/exercise and then logically towards cancer health.  Like most things though there is a caveat to using BMI as a measure to health - it doesn't take into account things like muscle mass, etc.  My own BMI is typically around 25, which would put me in the "overweight" category, however my reading is primarily due to the fact that I work out - cardio and weights - on a regular basis.  My own 'muscle mass' / muscle weighs more than fat - accounts for my higher reading on the BMI scale. 

There are a number of articles and studies that talk about BMI and cancer health, just Google that and you'll find tons.  Also here's a link to a page on the Cancer.org website that will quickly calculate your BMI:  http://www.cancer.org/healthy/toolsandcalculators/calculators/app/body-mass-calculator

Best of luck to you.

All I know is I feel much better when I am actively using the elliptical and lifting weights.

Let’s see…cancer grows from inflammation.   The immune system fights inflammation.   Exercise helps make the immune system more effective in fighting inflammation.   Exercise is a lifestyle choice.   OK…got it!   What about specifically for prostate cancer patients?   There has already been abstracts or studies posted here at HW on these benefits of exercise to the PC patient: ·          Exercise can help prevent prostate cancer and decreases the likelihood of developing PC ·          Exercise can help low-risk PC patients to stay on active surveillance (slows progression) ·          Exercise improve QoL for PC patients undergoing treatment ·          Exercise can help slow progression for men with advanced PC ·          Exercise helps strengthen the weakened bones of men with advanced PC undergoing HT ·          Exercise can improve prognosis in men with PC   I think that Dr Mark Scholz made a crystal clear point in his book titled Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers : “Everyone I have talked with who has done really well in the cancer wars has made diet and exercise a key part of their recovery program.”   What about other reasons (non PC) for exercise?   I can think of a few: ·          Exercise increases “cancer surveillance,” or the power of the immune system to stop other emerging cancers, which is particularly beneficial for those struggling with cancer, or who have just survived it. ·          Exercise combats other chronic diseases ·          Exercise strengthens bones (already mentioned for PC patients on HT) ·          Exercise fights heart disease, which kills 10X more men than PC ·          Exercise improves your heart:   it strengthens your heart muscle, lowers your resting heart rate, and makes it more efficient ·          Exercise increases your good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol, which helps reduce killer plaque. ·          Exercise improves your mood — keeps you from becoming a grumpy old man sitting around with nothing better to do than “flame” on the internet or other such dis-services ·          Exercise relieves symptoms of stress and depression—lots of talk about depression here at HW ·          Exercise reduces joint discomfort and reduces arthritis while increasing your range of motion ·          Exercise boosts your energy level—for more energy to do the things you enjoy ·          Exercise can help put the spark back in your sex life and can improve erectile function—‘nuf said!   Bottom line:   There is an appropriate level of exercise for everyone…but exercise is a choice .   We have seen men here at HW who have lamented too late that they should have engaged in exercise earlier to help “stack the odds in their favor,” but have never seen anyone express that they wish they had exercised less…   Exercise is an investment in one’s future quality of life …what do you what your future QoL to be like??   Post Edited (Casey59) : 10/16/2012 9:11:28 AM (GMT-6)

DavidG - just tried to e-mail you but it came back "failed." Do you mind shooting me an e-mail?

F8 said...
alot of guys who don't wear seat belts come out of car accidents just fine too. that sounds like the type of rationale used by cigarette smokers, David [img]/community/emoticons/cool.gif[/img] .
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no, it's just that I would venture a guess that a great deal of cancer patients or former cancer patients aren't exercising and doing just fine and in some cases better than those who do.

I chose to exercise for many reasons, but it doesn't mean that someone who doesn't is going to automatically fare worse in his/her struggle with cancer. There are so many contributing factors to the equation. Sure exercise help this and many other issues, but it isn't a do or die issue.

Just found some additional/current thoughts on the subject of the benefits of exercise, proper diet and yes, sexual activity - from Dr. David Samadi, chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center - who's name I believe I've seen out here from brothers that have had treatment done by him:

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2012/10/15/Ways-to-prevent-prostate-cancer/UPI-14921350343352/

While he does not site any data or studies I found this to be an interesting article given his stature in the world of PCa treatment.

JamesC, I totally agree. When I was going through my Dx and learning phase I did the exact opposite of what I should have done - I stopped my normal workout routine. I recently picked it up after 3 months of pretty much little to no routine, still fairly active but not with my workouts - and I am living what you stated about so hard to make gains and so easy (and fast!) to lose them. I feel SO much better when I stay with my fitness regimen, drink a gallon of water a day, and stay with good eating habits! Whether or not that translates into keeping the beast at bay I can't say with absolute certainty - but at the very least as they say, if it feels good, do it!