Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer for women – about 182,000 cases each year and over 40,000 deaths annually. What if we could prevent a third or half of these tragedies? A new study suggests that may be possible.
A large study in Texas looked at the relationship between fitness and breast cancer mortality. Over a period of several years, 14,811 women had a treadmill test to determine their fitness level (or peak aerobic capacity) and were then followed for 16 years to see who would develop breast cancer. Researchers adjusted for other risks including smoking, body weight, age, alcohol intake, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history of breast cancer, estrogen use, and other possible confounders.
The women were grouped into three categories:
- Low fitness (average peak aerobic capacity was 6.7 METs*)
- Moderate fitness (average peak aerobic capacity was 8.5 METs)
- High fitness (average peak aerobic capacity was 11.1 METs)
Here is what they found: Compared to the low-fit women, those who exercised enough to reach "moderate fitness" had a third (33 percent) fewer breast cancer deaths. Those who were highly fit had less than half as many (45 percent) deaths from breast cancer.
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When women were divided into just two groups, those who had a below-average fitness level (less than 8.0 METs peak aerobic capacity) were three times more likely to die from breast cancer compared to women with a peak aerobic capacity of 10 METs or higher.
These are remarkable results – cutting the risk of breast cancer (the leading cancer for women) in half or more simply by exercising daily. The researchers pointed out that most women can reach the moderate- to high-fitness categories by:
- Getting moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) for 30+ minutes, 5+ days/week,
- Or vigorously exercising for 20-30+ minutes, most days of the week.
The American Cancer Society encourages women to exercise briskly for at least an hour daily for best results in preventing cancer.
Bottom line: Women who exercise regularly can cut their risk of breast cancer by one-third to one-half. The only side effect from this kind of medicine is that you will probably look better, feel better, and live longer! Each day you decide if you are going to exercise or not. When deciding, think of this study and the personal health advantage you may experience. The choice is yours.
Reference:
Peel JB, et al. A Prospective Study of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Breast Cancer Mortality. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2009;41(4):742-748.
* METs are a measure of exercise intensity. One MET is equivalent to the amount of energy a person expends while sitting quietly. An 8-MET activity requires 8 times as much energy as sitting, and an 11-MET activity requires 11 times the energy of sitting. Average 40-year-old women have a predicted peak aerobic capacity of 9.5 METs. Average 50-year-old women have a peak aerobic capacity of 8.6 METs.
for more information on METs.
