Exercise "shield" against the recurrence of breast cancer
What lifestyle changes should a woman who has had breast cancer but has been treated make to minimize the risk of relapse? Above all, exercise, according to a new Canadian scientific study, as exercise can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence by up to 40%.
The researchers, led by Ellen Warner of the University of Toronto and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, studied (meta-analyzed) data from 67 studies that looked at a variety of factors (weight, exercise, diet). etc.) regarding their potential benefits in women who have undergone successful treatment for breast cancer.
Of all the possible lifestyle changes, regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week or 75 minutes of high-intensity exercise) has been found to eliminate the risk of premature cancer recurrence. This is probably due to the fact that exercise suppresses chronic internal inflammation, which can damage cells and promote carcinogenesis.
About one in four women diagnosed with this cancer will eventually die from it when it metastasizes to her body. A healthy lifestyle, however, reduces the risk of future metastases.
After exercise, the second most important intervention is weight loss after a successful anti-cancer treatment. A weight gain of more than 10% after being diagnosed with breast cancer increases the risk of dying from cancer. Women who are overweight or obese at diagnosis and then remain overweight have a worse prognosis.
Diet does not seem to have a positive effect on reducing the chance of cancer recurrence. Vitamin C supplements can help (although they need further study), while vitamin D helps restore bone health, which has weakened after chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
The study also recommends quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption to one drink a day at most. On the other hand, he points out that, despite any lifestyle changes, some breast cancers have an aggressive biology by nature and will recur.
Source: RES - EIA