Feel the Burn

...And lower your risk of colon cancer death

(RxWiki News) You are less likely to die from colon cancer if you exercise consistently, according to a new study led by researchers at the Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Physical activity makes colon cancer less deadly, according to the study, which followed 150,000 men and women to determine how exercise affected the disease. Researchers compared levels of physical activity between 1982 and 1997 to colon cancer diagnoses between 1998 and 2005, and colon cancer-deaths between 1998 and 2005. They found that those who exercised consistently for at least 10 years had the lowest risk of colon cancer death.

First study author Kathleen Y. Wolin, ScD, said it's never too late to start exercising and never too early to start being active. So there may be something to that new years resolution to become healthier, after all. 

In addition to lowering colon-cancer death rates, exercising consistently also lowers risk of heart disease, diabetes and other cancers. A 30-minute walk a day could save your life, providing what Wolin calls "enormous 'bang for the buck.'"

Physical activity can even be beneficial after a cancer diagnosis. Exercise can reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and death, Wolin said.

Review Date: 
December 31, 2010