It has been proven by scientific studies that a sedentary lifestyle is not compatible with human gene structure. It is known that the less active lifestyle that has emerged due to technological developments is an important factor in the formation of many chronic diseases.
Weight, diet and exercise directly affect human health and cancer risk. There are studies showing that the risk of uterine, lung and prostate cancers also decreases with exercise. Recent studies and the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise 3 or 5 days a week to reduce the risk of cancer. Accordingly, regular exercise prevents the development of many types of cancer, especially breast cancer.
Most recent studies show that women who exercise have a lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who do not. Most of the data show that exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Moderate to vigorous exercise during adolescence provides a particularly protective effect. Although lifelong regular and vigorous exercise is thought to be the most beneficial, women who increase their exercise even after menopause have a reduced risk compared to women who do not exercise.
According to some studies, the effect of exercise varies according to BMI (Body Mass Index). The benefit of exercise is greatest in those with a BMI below 25, that is, those whose weight is in the normal range. The data show that as the duration and frequency of exercise increases, the risk of breast cancer decreases. Most studies show that 30-60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous physical activity reduces the risk of breast cancer.
Exercise prevents tumor development by lowering hormone levels, especially in premenopausal women. Exercise lowers insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) levels in the blood, increases immune response, and prevents excess body fat and high body mass by maintaining ideal weight.
Studies show that exercise can be beneficial in increasing the quality of life, reducing fatigue and establishing energy balance after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Often, after a breast cancer diagnosis, both treatment and reduced movement lead to weight gain. However, a woman who does moderate exercise after a breast cancer diagnosis may have a longer survival than a woman who is sedentary. This benefit is even more pronounced in the hormone-sensitive patient.
Regular exercise for 4-5 hours a week alleviates the side effects of radiation and drug treatments, increases psychological well-being and reduces the risk of recurrence of the disease, even in patients with breast cancer.
The estrogen hormone secreted by the fat cells in the body is the most important risk factor for the formation of breast cancer. The fact that the fat ratio is lower in people who do sports regularly will reduce the estrogen level, thus playing a role in preventing the formation of breast cancer.
In addition, insulin-like growth factors (IGF) in the blood increase the risk of breast cancer by stimulating the division of breast cells. Regular exercise reduces the risk of developing breast cancer by preventing the increase in insulin and IGF in the blood.
Due to the intensity of work and family life, it may seem impossible to allocate time to exercise, as well as to do it regularly and continuously. However, daily exercise times can be increased with some arrangements. Walking is a good choice. You can walk for half an hour before going to work or during lunch breaks. If you are driving, parking far away from your work and home will increase your daily walking time. Taking a walk with a friend after work will both increase your exercise rate and help you relieve the stress of the day.
You can use gyms for different types of exercise, you can work out at home with exercise videos or dance to music. If you choose the exercise method that does not bore you and best suits your daily life routine, it will be easier to maintain it regularly.
As a result, it is clearly seen that exercise has an important role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Being physically active throughout life reduces the risk of many cancers, especially colon-rectum and breast cancer. For this reason, regular sports should be practiced especially by women at high risk for breast cancer.