Breast Cancer: Running Reduces Mortality in Women Who Survived the Disease
Surviving breast cancer: running is a boon for better health
Running protects against breast cancer more than walking. In women operated on and surviving breast cancer, running reduces the risk of mortality by over 40%. This is revealed by an American study, which updates previous recommendations that suggested moderate physical activity such as walking.
The discovery was made by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California (USA) and published in the journal International Journal of Cancer.
Cancer and physical activity
In recent years, numerous studies have suggested the importance of physical exercise in the primary prevention of various types of cancer such as breast, prostate, and colon cancer. And, in women affected by breast carcinoma, physical activity would also reduce the risk of mortality. The mechanism of this protective action is not yet clear, but it is certain that a correct lifestyle and healthy nutrition are fundamental both for prevention and rehabilitation from cancer. Previous studies suggested that to reduce by 25% the probability of dying from cancer in women already previously affected by the disease, 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per week are necessary. The new scientific work, however, shows that vigorous physical exercise is more effective than simple walking.
Running reduces mortality in women operated on for breast cancer
During the research, 986 women who survived breast cancer and took part in The National Runners and Walkers Health Study were observed. This large study, started in 1998, aimed to analyze the relationship between different types of physical activity and their effects on health. Of the 714 women walkers, 33 died due to breast cancer after 9 years, while of the 272 who practiced running, 13 died. Analyzed overall, these numbers show that with both types of physical activity, the risk of mortality decreases by about 24% per metabolic equivalent hour (MET) per day. One hour of MET equals the energy spent walking about one and a half kilometers or running about one kilometer. Analyzed separately, the data indicate lower mortality among runners compared to walkers. For runners, mortality decreased by 40% per MET hour per day, while for women who preferred walking, the percentage dropped by 5% per MET hour. Furthermore, those who ran about 3.5 kilometers per day showed a mortality risk 95% lower than women who did not perform the recommended physical activity.
Running and walking, here are the positive effects
These results therefore suggest that running has greater positive effects than walking in post-diagnosis therapy for breast cancer. As specified by the researchers, the study does not deny the beneficial effect of walking, due to the smaller number of subjects analyzed compared to previous studies, but suggests that more intense physical activity may have greater positive effects. The reason for the difference between the two types of sport is not yet understood, and although several studies have confirmed that running is more effective than walking for weight loss, other health effects, for the same energy expenditure, are similar. Both running and walking are recommended in cases of diabetes, for reducing cardiovascular risk, and for the prevention of brain cancer. Moreover, both running and walking have equal importance in the primary prevention of breast cancer.
Source: Williams PT. “Significantly greater reduction in breast cancer mortality from post-diagnosis running than walking”. Int J Cancer. 2014 Jan 27. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28740.
