Issue: March 2004
Topic: The role of physical activity in reducing the risk of cancer and for those living with cancer - (For use in April for Cancer Prevention Month)
April is Cancer Month and although there has not been very many studies done on how physical activity and cancer are interconnected, there seem to be promising evidence that physical activity plays a role in reducing the risk and certainly in helping those living with cancer. Ten years ago there was not much information in this area, however, in recent years, there seems to be a definite interest to formulate a connection between exercise and reducing the risk of cancer.
Research on Physical Activity and Cancer:
In March 2000, Cancer Care Ontario held a workshop in Toronto that investigated the relationship between physical activity and cancer prevention. For the full report, loaded with excellent information on this topic and how exercise can help those living with cancer, go to:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/publicat/cdic-mcc/21-4/a_e.html
| A quick snapshot of the research showing compelling evidence that physical activity can help reduce the cancer risk.
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TABLE 3
Consensus level of evidence for physical activity and cancer prevention |
| Cancer site
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Level of evidencea
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| Colonb
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Convincing
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| Breast
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Probable
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| Prostate
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Possible
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| Endometrium, lung, testis
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Insufficient but promising for further investigation
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| Other
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Insufficient
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a See Table 1 for descriptions
b Many studies considered only colon and rectum cancers combined. However, there were enough studies on colon cancer alone to conclude that the evidence related to it, but not to rectal cancer, was convincing.
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TABLE 4
Consensus public health recommendations on physical activity and cancer risk reduction |
| Physical activity recommendations should be included in primary prevention interventions for cancer prevention.
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| All messages for physical activity should be in the context of reducing the risk of cancer rather than preventing cancer.
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| In order to get cancer risk reduction benefits, physical activity should comprise at least 30–45 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days of the week.
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| Examples of moderate and vigorous physical activities should be provided as part of messaging; these should include activities appropriate to various age, sex and cultural groups.
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| Messaging should recognize the variation in maximal cardiorespiratory capacity within the population. For example, since maximal capacity declines, on average, with increasing age, the upper end of the recommended activity level (i.e. 45 minutes of vigorous exercise) is in general more appropriate for youth and the lower end (i.e. 30 minutes of moderate exercise) for the elderly. Recommended activity levels for those who have been sedentary should initially be less than for those who are already active.
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| Physical activity messages can be linked to other risk reduction messages, such as maintaining a healthy body weight.
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| Physical activity should be encouraged at all ages.
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| § Advocacy is required for policies and environmental supports for physical activity.
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| § A surveillance and measurement system should be implemented for tracking population levels of physical activity.
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TABLE 5
Summary of recommendations on physical activity from various organizations |
| Source
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Recommendationa
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| Health Canada/Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (Canada’s Physical Activity Guide)14
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Get active your way, every day – for life. Scientists say accumulate 60 minutes of physical activity every day to stay healthy or improve your health. As you progress to moderate activities you can cut down to 30 minutes, 4 days a week. Add up your activities in periods of at least 10 minutes each.
Start slowly … and build up.
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| Canadian Cancer Society (Seven Steps to Health)15
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Be physically active on a regular basis. This will also help you maintain a healthy body weight.
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| Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention (7 ways to prevent cancer)16
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Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
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| American Cancer Society (Guidelines on diet, nutrition and cancer prevention)17
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Be at least moderately active for 30 minutes or more on most days of the week.
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| U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2000)18
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Objective:
Increase the proportion of people aged 6 and older who engage regularly, preferably daily, in light to moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day to at least 30 percent.
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| U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services (Healthy People 2010)19
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Objectives:
Increase the proportion of adolescents who engage in vigorous physical activity that promotes cardiorespiratory fitness 3 or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion.
Increase the proportion of adults who engage regularly, preferably daily, in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day.
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| International Union Against Cancer (UICC) (Statement on diet, nutrition and cancer)20
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Exercise to maintain weight.
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| World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research10
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If occupational activity is low or moderate, take an hour’s brisk walk or similar exercise daily, and also exercise vigorously for a total of at least one hour a week.
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| a Quoted directly from the referenced documents.
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Other useful information can be found at Cancer Care Ontario http://www.cancercare.on.ca/prevention_preventionPrograms.htm
New Initiatives:
Cancer 2020: A Call to Action
The Cancer 2020 report ...
- is a call for action against the impact of cancer in Ontario. Its goals are aggressive because, quite simply, there are lives at stake. If we really intend to save these lives we must set and deliver on clear targets to lower the incidence of cancer.
- is an action plan. In order to achieve our goals we must have a solid long-term provincial plan for cancer prevention and early detection that is well understood and well resourced. It must have measurable goals and targets for cancer prevention and early detection and a reasonable time frame in which to achieve them.
- provides a framework to monitor our progress in reducing cancer incidence and mortality and we are committed to communicating this progress on a regular basis as a way to reinforce and motivate action.
Download the Cancer 2020 full report and executive summary
Events:
With spring right around the corner there is no shortage of events that people can participate in to get a start in not only supporting a cause but by getting active. The annual Relay for Life hosted by the Canadian Cancer Society can be found at http://www.cancer.ca/relayforlife/0,3707,153683985,00.html
Relay For Life is a community-based non-competitive event in which teams of 10 participants walk, run or stroll around a track to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society to support research and services for people living with cancer.
Brochures:
The Canadian Cancer Society offers a brochure for breast cancer survivors on how they can incorporate exercise into their life. A new study shows that exercise for breast cancer survivors aids in their recovery. Certainly, exercise has been shown to benefit physically and mentally.
http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_77977860_300053_langId-en,00.html
Content is provided as an information-sharing service and inclusion does not represent endorsement by PARC, Ophea or their funders.
Funded by the Government of Ontario.
