Author:
Regan Weaver
Company:
PCC
Email:
reganweaver@comcast.net
Over the weekend I participated in the LiveStrong Philadelphia Challenge with 5,100 other athletes. Together we raised more than $2.6million with donations from 30,000+ donors. One hundred percent of the money raised at the event will go toward the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) programs aiming to improve the experience of having cancer. I was very proud to wear my PreventingColorectalCancer.Org jersey, and on the back I had printed, “My legs hurt and it’s not the hills. We’re kicking cancer’s butt!”
I am an avid bicyclist and I have always been a fan of Lance Armstrong; and I feel empathy for those fighting cancer,so I am a huge fan of his foundation. A glance at the website shows patient navigation tools, survivorship best practices, worldwide anti-stigma campaigns, clinical trial match-making services, and community forums such as ‘Planet Cancer’ for young adults. In a similar vein, the LAF supports educational efforts to try and prevent cancer and teach people how to live healthful lives; I’m grateful for their efforts because more and more studies continue to prove the assertion that exercise not only reduces your risk of getting cancer but also helps your chance of survival once diagnosed.
In 2000, I remember reading Lance Armstrong’s book, It’s Not About the Bike, in it he said that even in his darkest days he would get on the stationary cycle and spin his legs. He kept telling himself, “If I’m riding I’m alive.” Ever since then there have been legions of followers, the LiveStrong army as they call themselves) who do the same and feel good because they know that they are doing their best to strengthen themselves for a battle against cancer. Now new evidence has been published in England and WebMD Health News that confirms Lance’s theory.
The report, "Move More: Physical activity the underrated 'wonder drug,’ “from Macmillan Cancer Support in the U.K., says ‘that 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week, the amount recommended by the U.K.'s four chief medical officers, is the minimum amount required to see the benefits.
Moderate intensity activity includes exercise such as cycling and very brisk walking, but also household tasks such as heavy cleaning and mowing the lawn.
The report presents four key findings:
Breast cancer patients' risk of recurrence and of dying from the disease can be reduced by up to 40% by doing 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week.
Bowel cancer patients' risk of recurrence and dying from the disease can be reduced by up to 50% by doing significant amounts of physical activity; this means about six hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week.
Prostate cancer patients' risk of dying from the disease can be reduced by up to 30% by doing the recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity.
After treatment, all cancer patients can reduce their risk of side effects from cancer and its treatment, including fatigue, depression, osteoporosis, and heart disease, by doing the recommended levels of physical activity.’
I think the takeaway message from both Lance Armstrong and these studies is the same: Live strong and you’ll live long.