Regular exercise can also reduce the risk of certain cancers by up to 70 percent. Here, however, appropriate prevention can only be achieved with relatively high levels of activity over a long period of time. Relatively reliable evidence of reduced disease rates among people who are active in sports is available with regard to colon cancer. Some studies also indicate a beneficial effect of sport and exercise on the risk of breast, prostate, and lung cancer:
- Very active men who consume more than 2,500 extra kilocalories per week through exercise have a 40 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer. Women reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by about 50 percent with four hours of exercise per week.
- The risk of bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer) can be reduced by 20 to 60 percent with plenty of exercise.
- During puberty, the risk of breast cancer decreases by 30 percent if at least one hour of exercise is done three times a week.
- For prostate and testicular cancer, the positive effect is between 10 and 70 percent.
Sport helps cancer patients
In addition, recent studies show a positive impact of coordinated sports and exercise programs in people already suffering from cancer. In women suffering from breast cancer, moderate endurance training shows positive effects on the immune system as well as on psychological factors. In other tumor diseases, such as colon cancer or lung tumors, tumor resistance can also be strengthened by means of sport and exercise.