Why do people who exercise regularly still get cancer? The truth is...

Life lies in exercise, and the importance of exercise to health is self-evident. If you don't move, you will get sick; if you sit for a long time, it will hurt your body and mind. But some people will ask, how can those who exercise regularly also get cancer?

In fact, the occurrence of cancer is the result of the combined effects of multiple factors. Comprehensive measures are needed to prevent cancer, and exercise is only one of them. Cancer is, to some extent, a disease caused by laziness. But this does not mean that people who exercise regularly will definitely not get cancer. There is no so-called cancer prevention measure that can guarantee that you will definitely not get cancer.

Exercise regularly

Helps reduce cancer risk

Sitting for a long time has become a normal part of many people's work and life. They take the bus when going out, sit in front of the computer all day long in the office, attend meetings, and lie down when they get home...

However, according to a survey by the World Health Organization, prolonged sitting is one of the four leading causes of death in lifestyle. Currently, the number of deaths caused by lack of exercise is as high as 3.2 million per year worldwide, including deaths caused by cancer.

Other studies have shown that long periods of sitting may increase the risk of certain cancers. In addition, people who sit for long periods of time are more likely to become obese due to reduced exercise, and obesity and overweight increase the risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, etc. Some even predict that obesity may be the number one cause of cancer in the future.

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So how can exercise help prevent cancer? The authoritative medical journal BMJ published a research paper in 2016, pointing out that if the amount of exercise per week can reach 3000-4000 METs-min, it can reduce the risk of breast cancer by about 20% and the risk of colorectal cancer by 25%.

Note: MET refers to the ratio of metabolic rate during exercise to metabolic rate at rest. It is used to calculate the calorie consumption during a certain activity and indicates the intensity of exercise. METs-min refers to the intensity time of exercise, focusing not only on the form of exercise but also on the duration of exercise.

The World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. To get the most out of exercise, it is recommended to do more than 60 minutes of moderate exercise or more than 30 minutes of vigorous exercise a day. The World Health Organization believes that a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of cancer by one-third and recommends that everyone exercise at least 150 minutes a week.

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Of course, it is difficult to find a lot of time for exercise due to work. The fast-paced modern life makes people breathless, and there is no time, energy, or spirit to exercise. Exercise has gradually become a "luxury" in modern people's lives, but at least we can try not to sit for too long.

Here we recommend that office workers try to exercise more in their daily work and life. For example, drive less, walk or ride a bicycle as much as possible when commuting to and from get off work, take the elevator as little as possible, and remember to avoid sitting for long periods of time.

Excessive exercise

There are also potential hazards

However, sports activities are not a panacea. We must look at everything dialectically. Exercise has benefits, but we must also be scientific. It is not the case that the greater the intensity, the better, nor the longer the exercise time, the better. Sometimes it may even bring some potential "harm".

For example, a study showed that exercise did not reduce the risk of prostate cancer and melanoma. In fact, high levels of physical activity were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer and melanoma. This may be because most physical activities are carried out outdoors, and higher levels of ultraviolet radiation are associated with melanoma.

In addition, exercise also requires a sense of "moderation". For certain special groups of people, they should pay attention to sports protection and do things within their ability, especially for older people and those with chronic diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. They should seek the advice of relevant specialist doctors to avoid accidents.

For people who have already had cancer or are cancer survivors, since each person's condition, underlying diseases, and physical condition are different, it is important to consult and communicate with the doctor in charge to seek advice, and develop an individualized exercise plan that suits them based on the specific situation. Do not try to use brute force.

The key to exercise is persistence. Only by persisting can you see results. Don't expect to achieve results once and for all. Exercise that is done for three days and then slackens for two days will not have any effect at all. Cancer prevention does not require many grand words, but depends on action and attention to details. Don't ignore small kindnesses.

In order to better stick to it, you should choose convenient forms of exercise according to local conditions. For example, jogging, brisk walking, cycling and swimming are better forms of exercise that are suitable for all ages, are not too restricted by venue, and are easier to stick to.

Finally, it must be emphasized that we cannot rely on exercise alone to prevent cancer. Cancer prevention is a comprehensive project. Exercise is only one aspect of reducing the risk of cancer. Other aspects such as smoking, staying up late, alcoholism, poor eating habits, obesity or overweight, and low intake of fruits and vegetables must also be avoided.

Author: Pan Zhanhe, Chief Physician, Master's Supervisor, Department of Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University

Reviewer: Tang Qin, Director and Researcher of the Science Popularization Department of the Chinese Medical Association