Not active? It’s not too late, says a new cancer study

It’s easy to take good health for granted when we have it, and we’ve all heard how important exercise is, but sometimes, it takes a big health scare to push people into changing their lifestyle. Unfortunately, for more and more South Africans, this wake-up call happens when they are diagnosed with cancer.

The 2017 Discovery Health Medical Scheme (DHMS) Oncology claims tracker reports that cancer causes more deaths than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined, with the incidence of cancer among DHMS members rising by 10% in the last seven years.

The top 3 cancer types are influenced by lifestyle factors

According to the report, women are more likely to get cancer earlier in life: while more men aged 56 and older are diagnosed than women in the same age group, women in the age group 35 to 55 have a higher rate of cancer diagnosis than men. The three types of cancer most diagnosed in male DHMS members is prostate, colorectal and lung. For women, it’s breast cancer, cervical/uterine cancer and lung cancer.

These findings highlight the importance of regular screenings and calls for South Africans to ramp up their efforts in taking preventive lifestyle measures, such as eating healthier (less meat, more fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes and grains), stopping smoking, and exercising regularly.

Why it’s never too late to start moving

But there is good news, says Vitality biokineticist Mari Leach, referring to a recent study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control. The large study showed that even cancer patients who only started exercising for the first time once being diagnosed improved their chances of survival significantly over those who stayed sedentary.

“Patients who reported never doing any type of exercise until they were faced with a cancer diagnosis cut their risk of death by 25% to 28%, compared to those who remained inactive,” says Dr Rikki Cannioto, the epidemiologist and exercise science expert who led the study, demonstrating that it’s never too late to start getting more active.

Active patients have much better clinical outcomes

“Our research also demonstrated that low-to-moderate weekly exercise is associated with significantly improved survival, which is particularly encouraging, given that cancer patients and survivors can be overwhelmed by the current recommendations of at least 30 minutes of daily moderate-to-intense physical activity,” Cannioto adds.

The study analysed data from over 5 800 cancer patients and showed that patients who exercised three to four times a week both before and after their diagnosis had the greatest survival advantage – they were up to 40% less likely to die from the disease, and experienced far better quality of life.

Any regular physical activity is better than none

Even patients who exercised only one to two times a week had much better clinical outcomes compared to completely inactive patients. “Studies like this drive home the weight of the message that when it comes to exercise, any regular activity is better than none,” says Leach.

This study is one of the first to examine the positive effect of regular exercise before and after a cancer diagnosis, and across many different cancer types. The strongest link between exercise and a lower risk of death was seen across eight types of cancer: breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, bladder, endometrial, oesophageal and skin cancer.

Exercise is always worth the effort

“What makes the results of this particular study so encouraging,” Leach adds, “is that it helps to prove how worthwhile regular exercise is in preventing and treating cancer – regardless of your age, weight, smoking status, cancer type and even cancer stage. No matter where you are in life and what your health is like – being physically active as regularly as you can will lower your cancer risk and improve your quality of life.”

If you’re a cancer patient (or know one) and are looking for guidelines on how to exercise during and after your cancer treatment, check out Mari Leach’s recommendations here.