It is said that “life lies in exercise”, the benefits of exercise to health are self-evident, but in the face of the increasingly serious cancer problem, can exercise also contribute to its own strength?
Recently, a study published in the journal JAMA, with a cumulative follow-up of 18 years and a total of 1.44 million people, found that moderate to vigorous exercise training may reduce the risk of cancer. Among them, the risk of liver cancer is reduced by 27%; the risk of lung cancer is reduced by 26%; the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma is reduced by 42%; the incidence of breast cancer can also be reduced by 10%.
Is exercise really so magical? Let’s see what leading experts say.
First, authoritative research: exercise can really fight cancer!
In addition to the above research, in 2020, an international research survey article published in “eLife” also provided evidence that exercise can help fight cancer.
By examining how the immune system’s cytotoxic T cells respond to exercise, the ability of T cells to recognize and clear cancer cells is key to preventing tumor growth and the basis for current immunotherapy .
The researchers paid special attention to the role of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. After comparing exercise mice and non-exercise mice, it was found that the CD8+ T cells in the blood circulation of exercise mice The increase in cells can inhibit tumor growth.
To study how exercise affects tumors, the researchers took samples of T cells, blood and tissue after the animals exercised and measured levels of common metabolites produced in the muscles during exercise.
It was found that metabolites released from muscles into the blood during exercise make CD8+ T cells more efficient, such as lactate, which alters T cell metabolism and increases cell activity. In human experiments, it has also been confirmed that strenuous exercise can change the metabolism of plasma and lymphoid organs.
For the findings, researcher Helene Rundqvist said exercise does increase the activity of the immune system, activating the production of several molecules and metabolites that fight cancer cells, thereby inhibiting tumor growth.
Second, proper exercise for cancer patients, 4 benefits are indispensable
For cancer patients, After a serious illness, their health is not as good as before, and they will choose to “rest in rest”, thinking that sports injuries are not conducive to recovery. However, blindly resting, but may make the patient’s body more and more weak. Studies have shown that proper and regular exercise may help patients live longer.
Exercise for cancer patients, the possible benefits:
1. Reduce fatigue
After some psychological stimulation, cancer patients often Fatigue. This subjective feeling will not be alleviated by the patient’s increased sleep and rest. For patients in the recovery period, increasing aerobic exercise may actually reduce fatigue.
2. Increased oxygen carrying capacity
When a person is exercising, the oxygen he needs to inhale will be several times or even dozens of times more than when he is sitting still , Appropriate exercise can increase the oxygen content of the patient’s breath, thereby stimulating cell activity and helping prolong the patient’s life cycle.
3. Enhance immunity
Exercise can stimulate one’s own immune function and help to rationally remove metabolites from the body. Tumor development can play a certain inhibitory role.
4. Improve mental state
Exercise is the most effective “good medicine” for anti-depression. Appropriate exercise can relieve negative emotions such as mental stress and depression , so that the patient’s anxiety and sleep deprivation were improved.
3. What kind of exercise is suitable for cancer patients?
Aiming at the imbalance of the internal environment of tumor patients, what kind of exercise is more suitable for “remodeling” the body to help fight cancer?
1. Academician Tang Zhaoyou: Swimming is the best anti-cancer exercise
Tang Zhaoyou, a famous Chinese tumor surgeon and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, once put forward the view: The best anti-cancer exercise is swimming.
In order to verify the effectiveness of swimming, Tang Zhaoyou led a team to conduct a controlled study, and the results found: Moderate swimming can increase dopamine in the body, and dopamine has anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects. effect.
For cancer patients, moderate swimming can help improve blood circulation and metabolism, and maintain and restore normal body functions. Studies have found that swimming can stimulate the production of interferon in the body, which has a certain effect on preventing cancer recurrence.
But it needs to be reminded that cancer patients must be evaluated according to their own conditions and hospital recommendations before swimming. For patients who are suitable for swimming, the following points should be noted:
①It is not suitable to exercise before and after meals;
②Before swimming Fully warm up and slowly adapt to the water temperature;
③After swimming, pay attention to hydration, and it is not advisable to eat immediately; after the end, wash your body carefully to avoid bacterial infection.
2. Late stage lung cancer, miracles of life created by running
In cancer patients There is a “celebrity” in the circle, He Ming, who is known as a “horse race anti-cancer fighter”. In 2016, He Ming was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, and the doctor told him that he might have only 3 months left. He was reluctant to give up, so he chose to run for exercise. This run made him create a miracle. Originally only had a lifespan of 3 months, a run is 4 years, and participated in 61 marathons.
The University of Copenhagen led a team led by Perneley Hoiman to use mice with 5 different cancers to feed animal model experiments. researchers let miceAfter running 4-7 kilometers every day, it was found that the anti-cancer ability of mice was significantly improved, which further verified that running is beneficial to delaying tumor growth.
However, while running helps with tumor recovery, it is not suitable for lung cancer patients. Because of lung failure in patients with lung cancer, running will increase the resistance of the lungs and increase the load on the lungs. For other cancer patients, even running should be within the range of their own tolerance, and they should adjust the running speed and frequency according to their own conditions, and proceed gradually.
3. Tumor patients exercise, follow the general principle: “low starting point, slow progress”
Whether it is swimming, jogging, Tai Chi, yoga and other sports, cancer patients belong to a special group. When exercising, they still need to “cherish” their body and do what they can.
Before any exercise , you need to check or consult a professional doctor in advance; for patients with severe anemia, you can’t force yourself and start exercising after the anemia has improved; immunity Patients with low levels should avoid going to public places as much as possible, and can only go out until the level of white blood cells reaches normal; swimming is not suitable for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy; if they feel unwell, they should stop exercising immediately.
All in all, exercise is a cost-effective way to fight cancer or prevent cancer. But no matter what kind of exercise, you must insist on it. Three days of fishing and two days of drying nets are of little significance for anti-cancer and cancer prevention. Only long-term persistence can achieve ideal results.
References:
[1] “Exercise can not only prevent disease, but also fight cancer! “. China Biotechnology Network. 2020-11-05
[2] “Swimming, running, and brisk walking, how should cancer patients choose suitable sports? “. Saving Liver Cancer. 2020-07-30