7 Scary Cancers You Can Help Prevent Just By Exercising ( SOURCE;- reader's Digest )

 

You know that daily exercise benefits your body and your brain. But another hidden plus of going to the gym: It can reduce your risk of cancer.

BY JAMIE SCHMID

Exercise may help prevent: breast cancer

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Moderate to vigorous physical activity can reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a 2009 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. After analyzing 50 studies, researchers found a 20 percent reduction in the formation of breast cancer. Exercise might prevent the growth of breast tumors by lowering hormone levels and by regulating insulin levels, which may improve your immune system, according to the National Cancer Institute. These are 30 other simple habits to prevent cancer.

Exercise may help prevent: lung cancer

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According to the American Lung Association, about 158,040 people were expected to die from lung cancer in 2015. The National Cancer Institute examined 21 studies and found that physical activity may decrease the risk of developing lung cancer by up to 20 percent. However, it was difficult for researchers to accurately rule out the effects of smoking on the results. Even if you are physically fit, here are symptoms of lung cancer you should not ignore.

Exercise may help prevent: prostate cancer

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The Prostate Cancer Foundation estimates that almost 3 million men in the United States currently have prostate cancer. (Watch out for these silent signs of prostate cancer.) A 2005 study in the Journal of American Medical Association Internal Medicine followed men for 14 years and found that those 65 years or older had a lower risk of fatal prostate cancer if they exercised vigorously. Although being diagnosed with prostate cancer may cause one to become depressed and inactive, it is important to try to keep your body moving. These are health secrets your prostate desperately wants you to know.

Exercise may help prevent: endometrial cancer

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The National Cancer Institute estimates that 2.8 percent of women will be diagnosed with this type of cancer, which forms in the lining of the uterus, during their lifetime. A way to prevent being a part of this percent: daily activity. A 2004 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institutesuggested that women with a higher BMI and low physical activity were at higher risk for developing endometrial cancer. These are cancer symptoms women are likely to ignore.

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Exercise may help treat: colon cancer

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A 2013 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that more physical activity before and after a colon cancer diagnosis led to a lower mortality rate. The study by the American Cancer Society followed almost 2,300 cancer patients. They found that even 2.5 hours of walking per week could have a significant impact on one’s mortality rate. Although going to the gym may not cure colon cancer, it certainly can’t hurt. Here are signs of colon cancer not to ignore.

Exercise may help treat: brain cancer

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Brain cancer can be one of the terrifying types. In fact, brain tumors are the most common cancer for those ages 0 to 19, according to the American Brain Tumor Association. However, a 2011 study by the Duke Cancer Institute found that brain cancer patients who exercise regularly live longer than those who remain more sedentary. The study suggests that physical activity’s affect on the patients overall mood might also add to its life-extending abilities.

Exercise may help treat: bone cancer

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When a cancerous tumor forms in the bone it essentially eliminates healthy bone mass. Biomedical researchers at Cornell University discovered that weight-bearing exercise, like weight training or running, might reduce the formation of bone tumors. According to their 2013 study, making your bones stronger by physical activity seems to make tumors weaker and even prevent their growth. It is a win-win situation, building bone strength and preventing future bone cancer.