Cancer Research UK say ‘By being physically active, you can reduce the risk of breast, bowel and womb cancer. Keeping active could help to prevent more than 3,000 cases of cancer in the UK every year’.
What the Experts Say
The ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) have concluded: ‘Exercise is safe both during and after most types of cancer treatment, including intensive life threatening treatments such as bone marrow transplants. Patients are advised to avoid inactivity and return to normal daily activities as soon as possible after surgery and during cancer treatments’.
Macmillan believes physical activity is an underrated ‘wonder drug’ and that everyone living with or supporting someone with cancer, and other long-term conditions, should be aware of its benefits. Leading a physically active lifestyle during and after cancer is linked to improvements in many of the adverse effects of cancer and its treatments. An active lifestyle helps overcome fatigue, anxiety and depression, while protecting the heart, lungs and bones. In some cases, being physically active has been shown to slow disease progression, improve survival and reduce the chance of recurrence.Despite these benefits, only 23% of people living with cancer are active to recommended levels.