| "It's too early, it's too late, I'm tired, my feet hurt, | | | | younger women aged 12-22. |
| my whole body hurts, I'm hungry," these are | | | | A similar article published in the Journal of the |
| many of the excuses that keep us from | | | | American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003 |
| exercising. It is really important that you don't | | | | (2003;290:1331) demonstrated a 20% drop in the |
| make excuses but make changes to your life. I'm | | | | risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women |
| saying this not because I enjoy working out all | | | | who engaged in 10 hours per week of moderate |
| the time, which I don't, but because your risk of | | | | intensity exercise like tennis, jogging or aerobics. |
| breast cancer can be diminished by exercise. | | | | This information is taken from the Women's |
| The latest American Cancer Society's guidelines | | | | Health Initiative Observational Study involving |
| for physical activity recommend 30 minutes daily | | | | more than 74,000 women aged 50-79. Don't |
| of brisk exercise at least 5 days a week. Is there | | | | worry if you can't jog, there were also benefits |
| any data to back this up? There sure is. In fact | | | | for those who walk, bike, or swim 5 days a |
| exercise can help prevent both pre and post | | | | week. |
| menopausal breast cancer and if you have had | | | | Finally, a study of 1491 women who had received |
| breast cancer, a regular exercise program will | | | | treatment for early stage breast cancer revealed |
| improve your survival. Here's the data. | | | | a 44% improvement in survival if they engaged in |
| The first study was recently published in the | | | | 30 minutes of walking a day for 6 days every |
| Journal of the National Cancer Institute | | | | week (J Clin Oncol 2007;25:2345). This survival |
| (2008;100:608). This is a report from the Nurses | | | | improvement was enhanced if the women also |
| Health Study II which included 64,777 | | | | ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables. The |
| premenopausal nurses. They were given | | | | interesting finding is that the benefit was |
| questionnaires regarding physical activity starting in | | | | regardless of weight. Your weight is less |
| 1997. After 6 years of follow up, 550 women | | | | important than your lifestyle choices of exercise |
| developed breast cancer. Women whose total | | | | and diet preventing breast cancer recurrence. |
| activity equaled 3.25 hours per week of running or | | | | So, no more excuses. Get out there and move a |
| 13 hours per week of walking had a 23% lower | | | | little, walk, run, play tennis, or swim. Whatever |
| chance of getting breast cancer. This was | | | | you do, you can be sure that you will decrease |
| especially true when the activity occurred in | | | | your risk of breast cancer. |