Exercise is as good for preventing cancer as it is for taking care of your heart. And not only that, it is also beneficial in case of suffering from the disease.
In the long run of benefits produced by physical exercise must be added that it is an aid in the fight against cancer and also in the prevention of this serious disease.
According to a study published in the journal Choose, physical exercise makes T cells (a type of white blood cells that are part of our defensive system) more effective at attacking cancer cells.
The researchers say the finding sheds light on how lifestyle influences immunity and they hope it will lead to new immunotherapeutic treatments.
The ability of T cells to identify and kill cancer cells is essential to prevent tumor growth and is one of the mainstays of current immunotherapy treatments.
EXERCISE BOOSTS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF IMMUNITY AGAINST CANCER
Exercise might improve the outcome of these treatments by increasing the activation of the immune system, making tumor-fighting cells more effective.
If you suffer from cancer or know someone who is going through the disease, it is advisable to talk to the oncologist to establish the most appropriate exercise pattern for the personal case.
The study, led by Dr. Randall S. Johnson of the Karolinska Instituted (Sweden), one of the most advanced medical research centers in the world, concludes that metabolites produced by muscles, such as sodium lactation and that reach the blood plasma improve the effectiveness of T and CD8 immune cells, which are able to reduce the growth of tumors.
EXERCISE REDUCES CANCER RISK
The study was conducted with laboratory mice and with people, who pedaled on bicycles for 30 minutes.
The authors of the study recall that physical activity affects all body tissues in one way or another. Previous research had shown that exercise could reduce the risk of many types of cancer.
In addition to the effect of exercise on immunity through metabolites generated in muscles, exercise has been shown to reduce systemic inflammation, increase the number of circulating immune cells, and improve response to vaccination.
WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISE IS MOST BENEFICIAL FOR PREVENTING CANCER?
Dr. Kathryn Schmitz, of the Department of Public Health Sciences at Penn State School of Medicine, points out that if in the past doctors advised cancer patients to rest and avoid physical activity, today they should do the opposite.
Schmitz says exercise can be “dosed” precisely, just as drugs are done, to address different patient situations.
- 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (running, swimming, cycling) three times a week is enough to improve anxiety, depression, tiredness, quality of life, and overall physical functioning.
- It is also beneficial to do resistance exercise (weights, machines, rubbers, etc.) twice a week.
Exercise increases the chances of survival for people with cancer. This is proven in the case of breast, colon and prostate cancers, but all patients are advised to follow the same beneficial exercise guidelines for healthy people:
- 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity.
Of course, the exercises must be adapted to the preferences and condition of each patient.
- Exercise not only improves the effectiveness of the immune system but can reduce the side effects of cancer treatment.
- Schmitz believes that both doctors and the general public should be as aware of the benefits of exercise in relation to cancer as they already are about its advantages for heart or weight.