Active Bodies Less Friendly to Cancer

More and more research shows that the environment around cancer tumors can affect whether they grow and become a threat. And exercise can have an impact on that environment. USA TODAY wrote about this research focus in a group of articles published October 3. Exercise is especially helpful in the case of breast cancer. Women who exercise 30 minutes a day after menopause cut their chance of getting breast cancer by 20%. Staying active can help prevent obesity. Obesity increases breast cancer risk 30% to 50%. Exercise helps to stop long-term inflammation and control insulin. High levels of inflammation and insulin can fuel cancer growth. Exercise also reduces estrogen levels. This hormone spurs growth in many breast cancers. Scientists are still learning exactly how environment affects tumor growth. They hope research will lead to new treatments.