According to an LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study, regular physical activity can prevent a recurrence of colon cancer. Director of the Cancer Metabolism Program at Pennington, Dr. Justin Brown said they followed 1,600 patients with stage III colon cancer for five years, and post-operative exercise increased their survival rate.
“So, we’re talking about 150 minutes, per week of activities like brisk walking. So that’s a 30-minute walk, five days a week, and you can achieve the health benefit,” said Brown.
Brown said by being physically active, just 150 minutes a week of brisk walking, can prevent a recurrence of colon cancer.
“Not just delay but actually prevent the recurrence of colon cancer, which is why many patients after they have finished their treatment die if their cancer comes back,” said Brown.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and as for why and how physical activity prevents a recurrence, Brown said they will continue their research.
“What matters to patients is that they do their activity, and they get their health benefit, and the scientists will try to figure out what is happening biologically so we can that we can better use physical activity to help patients in the future,” said Brown.
To read the entire study click here.
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