In a groundbreaking study, researchers have found that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of cancer progression and mortality. The study, utilizing data from an insurance database, highlighted the potential of exercise as a vital component in cancer treatment. With early diagnosis and increasing incidence of cancer worldwide, the findings underscore the importance of accessible interventions like exercise. Researchers discovered that even 60 minutes of moderate exercise per week could lower the chances of cancer progression by 27% and death by 47%.
The study analyzed exercise data collected before cancer diagnosis, revealing promising results despite several limitations. Notably, the research did not account for physical activity post-diagnosis, leaving a gap in understanding the full impact of exercise on cancer patients' prognosis. Moreover, the exercise data was primarily gathered through wearable devices, potentially misclassifying those with physically active jobs who did not use such devices.
“There were several drawbacks to the study: It only collected exercise data from before diagnosis. We have no idea what these patients did afterwards […] While the measured exercise was likely accurate, it didn’t capture all that people do. So, for example, patients who had physically active jobs but didn’t wear watches that capture movement would have been inaccurately classified as doing no physical activity. The data support this since 60% were classified as having no physical activity. Even walking to your fridge or car or job entails some activity, so this study would have vastly underestimated amounts of activity.”
Despite these limitations, the study reinforces the benefits of even minimal physical activity. Researchers advocate for adherence to the World Health Organization's recommendation of 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to harness all its benefits. The study calls for healthcare providers to integrate exercise into routine cancer care, emphasizing its role in enhancing patient outcomes.
“this study confirms the benefits of even relatively small amounts of physical activity but we should encourage adherence to the WHO [World Health Organization] guidelines of 300 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise for all of its well-described benefits.”
The implications of these findings are significant, especially as cancers are diagnosed earlier and more frequently. Exercise emerges as a cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can complement traditional cancer therapies. However, the study's reliance on an insurance database presents certain challenges. The database, primarily developed for insurance purposes rather than research, lacks comprehensive data on variables such as completion of cancer therapies, weight, and smoking habits that could influence the relationship between exercise and prognosis.
“With cancers being diagnosed earlier and an increasing incidence, accessible interventions that may positively influence prognosis are more relevant than ever. Knowing that as little as 60 minutes of regular weekly exercise may reduce the likelihood of cancer progression by 27% and death by 47%, should encourage all doctors to use exercise as medicine.”
“The population was from an insurance database […] The database was developed for insurance, not research. So other variables that could explain associations between exercise and prognosis (completion of cancer therapies, weight, smoking, etc) were largely not available,” – McTiernan
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