Prostate cancer survival rates may be boosted with regular exercise, research shows. The American Cancer Society study looked at over 10,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The men provided information about their activity levels prior to and after diagnosis.
The researchers found that men with the highest levels of exercise prior to their diagnosis had a 30 percent reduction in death due to prostate cancer, compared to men who exercised the least. Furthermore, the amount of exercise was found to be directly proportional to the scope of benefits received. The researchers also found that even after diagnosis, men with the greatest exercise levels had a 34 percent reduction in death, compared to those with little to no exercise.
Lead researcher Ying Wang explained, “Our results support evidence that prostate cancer survivors should adhere to physical activity guidelines, and suggest that physicians should consider promoting a physically active lifestyle to their prostate cancer patients.”
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The researchers also looked at walking as the only form of exercise. They found that walking for four to six hours a week prior to diagnosis was associated with a reduction in death by one-third, but walking after diagnosis did not show any reduction in death rates.
Wang added, “The American Cancer Society recommends adults engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. These results indicate that following these guidelines might be associated with better prognosis.”
Wang concluded that additional research is required to determine whether these results vary between patients based on age at diagnosis, smoking, and body weight.
Mohan Garikiparithi got his degree in medicine from Osmania University (University of Health Sciences). He practiced clinical medicine for over a decade before he shifted his focus to the field of health communications. During his active practice he served as the head of the Dept. of Microbiology in a diagnostic centre in India. On a three-year communications program in Germany, Mohan developed a keen interest in German Medicine (Homoeopathy), and other alternative systems of medicine. He now advocates treating different medical conditions without the use of traditional drugs. An ardent squash player, Mohan believes in the importance of fitness and wellness.
