The Astonishing Power Of Exercise To Stop Cancer Cell Growth

Yesterday was Metastatic Breast Cancer Day.

With my daughter in mind, I'm happy to share this new research:

A new study found that exercise benefits go beyond building stronger muscles, bones, and hearts--it can help your body fight cancer!

Just one workout can trigger measurable cancer-fighting effects in the body.

Each woman in the study participated in one 45-minute session, either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or strength training. Blood samples were taken before and after the workouts.

When researchers added post-exercise blood to breast cancer cells growing in the lab, something dramatic happened: many of the cancer cells stopped growing.

Some even died!

Blood taken before the workout had no effect.

The experiment adds to increasing evidence that exercise upends the risks of not only developing but also surviving cancer.

This effect is attributed to myokines, beneficial hormones and biochemicals released by contracting muscles.

Scientists have suspected these molecules are cancer-fighters. The women’s post-workout blood had significantly higher levels of beneficial myokines, especially one calledIL-6.

The higher the IL-6, the stronger the cancer-suppressing effect.
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That explains something doctors have noticed for years: people who exercise after a cancer diagnosis tend to have lower recurrence rates and better survival.

It's not just breast cancer

In another study, a large group of colon cancer survivors began a supervised exercise program that included frequent, fast-paced walking and other, more intense workouts.

A second group didn’t exercise.

Three years later, the exercisers were 37% less likely to have a cancer recurrence than those who didn’t work out--an outcome better than that seen with many preventive drugs, according to the study’s authors.

Intensity is a key element. The blood drawn after interval training contained the highest concentrations of certain myokines, particularlyIL-6.

The more IL-6 in the blood, the more effectively it slowed or stopped cancer growth.

Weight training is key to fighting cancer.

People with cancer who increase their muscle mass through resistance training have greater rises in circulating myokines.

More muscle means more myokines.

If you’re a cancer patient or survivor, your fatigue may make you think that exercising is the last thing you want to do.

Don't worry. You don’t need to start with grueling workouts. The women in the study tolerated their training surprisingly well, despite not exercising previously. One of our clients has found that the more she does, the more she feels like doing.

Programs that include both interval-style conditioning and resistance training, adjusted for your fitness level, appear to be safe and beneficial.

Gentle activity like walking offers health benefits, but researchers believe harder exercise produces a stronger release of myokines.

Any movement is a step in the right direction, especially for someone rebuilding strength after cancer treatment.

Of course, before beginning any exercise program, check with your oncologist or healthcare provider.

When you get a cancer diagnosis, you want to take advantage of every weapon at your disposal.

One researcher said, "Exercise is not just a nice add-on to conventional therapies... It’s increasingly being recognized as a first-line treatment in its own right for people with cancer."

Katie's an exerciser. I believe it's one reason she's still surviving stage 4 cancer after almost 6 years. 🩷