By David Novak
Cancer is known as one the prevalent diseases in the world today. Every year millions of people are afflicted by this life-threatening disease. Cancer is a class of diseases wherein cells grow out of control. These cancerous cells can even spread to other parts of the body and destroy healthy tissues.
There is no proven way to completely prevent cancer, but there are steps that can lower your risk or keep it from occurring or recurring. Eating a healthy diet is always on the top of the list when it comes to cancer prevention. Certain components of food are found to help in lowering the risk of cancer, such as antioxidants, phytochemicals and omega-3 fatty acids. Physical activity may also reduce cancer risk by enhancing the immune system, preventing obesity, and reducing hormone levels and inflammation.
Surviving cancer is a major accomplishment of every cancer victim. It gives them a new priority in life, which is to prevent cancer from recurring. Same with cancer prevention during cancer treatment. Good food allows cancer victims to replenish all the nutrients that were loss during cancer treatment, as well as boost their weakened immune system. Exercise is also a great way in staving off cancer recurrence. Being physically active doesn’t mean you have to work out for hours. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercises each day.
EXERCISE FOR CANCER PREVENTION
Overweight and obesity have long been associated with many types of cancer. The best way to prevent prevalent diseases such as cancer is to maintain a healthy physique by means of proper nutrition and exercise. As stated by the World Health Organization, limiting weight gain during adulthood can reduce the risk of certain cancers such as colon cancer, renal cell cancer, thyroid cancer and postmenopausal breast cancer.
Many oncologists have asserted that moderate physical activity can improve the wellbeing of cancer survivors. A majority of studies that use supervised exercise programs show that physical activity has beneficial effects on the physical fitness of cancer survivors. Several positive effects can be seen in their functional capacity, physical well-being, functional well-being and self-esteem, among others. Based on another study made by L.M. Oldervoll, there is indeed a promising effect of exercise during and after cancer treatment.
Exercise should be moderate for at least 2-3 hours a week. Moderate exercise is when you are doing a physical activity that increases your breathing and heart rate. This is done at a comfortable pace where you can still be able to hold a conversation. Before starting any exercise regime, discuss with your doctor the type and amount of exercise that is considered safe for you. Every cancer survivor has different limitations, thus what the others can do may be unsuitable for you.
Here are several benefits of exercise for cancer survivors:
Several observational studies have shown that gaining weight during or after breast cancer treatment increases the risk of recurrence and reduces survival, irrespective of baseline body mass index (BMI).