Aerobic exercises, resistance training key to reduce breast cancer recurrence: Study
Aerobic exercises twice to three times weekly may potentially reduce the recurrence rate of breast cancer
- NEW DELHI — Indulging
in moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercises twice to three times weekly,
with resistance training added in a few times per week, may potentially reduce
the recurrence rate of breast cancer, according to new research.
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- While aerobic exercises like swimming, running, and climbing
stairs, resistance training includes pushups and bench presses.
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- Researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia
said that despite the advances made in breast cancer treatment, recurrence
remains common and continues to contribute to higher mortality risks.
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- In more aggressive cancers, the risk of recurrence can be as
high as between 20 per cent and 30 per cent.
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- The study found that a combination of resistance exercise
and aerobic exercise could reduce pro-inflammatory biomarkers caused by various
cancer treatments.
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- "The treatment of breast cancer, which can include
chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or endocrine therapy, could increase
inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation may increase the risk of the
recurrence of breast cancer, as inflammation may promote cancer cell
progression and development," said Francesco Bettariga, ECU doctoral
student.
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- In the paper, published in JNCI: Journal of the National
Cancer Institute, Bettariga and team investigated the effects of exercise in
women with non-metastatic breast cancer.
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- "Our research found that three markers of inflammation
were significantly reduced by consistent exercise, which is a very encouraging
result," Bettariga said.
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- While the exact mechanisms behind the reduction in
inflammation are still being examined, Bettariga noted that one theory being examined
is that exercise results in the body's muscles releasing a chemical that could
reduce inflammation.
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- Another working theory is that the reduction in inflammation
markers could be a result of increases in muscle mass and reductions in the
body, as both could contribute to modulating inflammation.
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- “While there are currently no guidelines on how much
exercise to do, we would suggest moderate- to high-intensity aerobic exercises
twice to three times weekly, with resistance training added in a few times per
week," Bettariga said.
