Regular Exercise Cuts Adults' Cancer Risk by Up to 26%

2 articles · Updated · SciTechDaily · May 24

Adults with the highest daily physical activity levels had a 26% lower risk of developing cancer than those with the lowest activity, according to research highlighted in the latest report.
The benefit appeared even with modest gains: people taking 7,000 steps a day had an 11% lower cancer risk than those at 5,000 steps, while 9,000 steps was linked to a 16% lower risk.
Researchers say movement may curb chronic inflammation, improve hormone regulation, strengthen immune surveillance and reduce sedentary time, all of which are tied to cancer development.
The lower risk spans several cancers, including breast, kidney, lung, colon, endometrial, esophageal, bladder and stomach cancers.
Health guidance still recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week, though the report stresses that any increase in activity can help.

Since tumors fuel their own inflammation, can exercise break this vicious cycle and boost cancer therapy effectiveness?

If exercise is now medicine, how will doctors prescribe a precise 'dose' to fight specific cancers?

Can exercise erase the 'epigenetic memories' that chronic inflammation imprints on our cells to cause cancer?