This study relates mostly to colon cancer (it mentions breast cancer), but I thought it was interesting.
My hospital has recently introduced a ten-week exercise programme to help lower the side effects of the treatment and also the likelihood of recurrence, so it’s an area that interests me.
And massive mental health and wellbeing benefits too
Thanks for sharing
Great news to have the evidence of something I have always valued. It is wonderful now that structured post treatment exercise programmes are now becoming the norm.
I also read the article this morning with great interest. I do hope that my hospital will introduce a similar programme as yours. I’m 10 months post surgery and am exercising in my own way but the meds (Letrozole, Abemaciclib) make me so tired that it’s a real effort to keep up. I could really do with some direct support and shall contact my BCN, they’re probably being inundated at the moment!
it certainly makes me feel better than sitting on my bottom contemplating my future so I prefer the exercise regime to the previous advice which was don’t carry anything with the affected arm in case you develop lymphoedema in it (19 years earlier) I am now the fittest 69 year old I know. Not that I have any time to inspect anyone else as I am out in the garden mowing, weeding and pruning from dawn to dusk except when having a break typing these words and others which you can take or leave as they are only based on my experience. A good randomised controlled trial might establish a link but none of the studies I see seems to be randomised or controlled or of sifficient size to establish anything. Hence my cynicism
Once a seagull always a seagull poo pooing from above
I had similar thoughts . I would like to see if there were any other lifestyle changes made , that would also reduce risk of recurrence . Eg stopping drinking alcohol or smoking . Did they change diet ? I think it only applied to colon cancer ?
Woujd be good to see one specifically for breast cancer patients , as we are in our thousands …
Going to see if I can find full details as breast cancer is mentioned .
There’s growing research showing how even moderate exercise can improve treatment outcomes and help reduce recurrence risks, especially when integrated with recovery plans. It’s empowering to see programs that give patients proactive ways to support their health during such a tough time.
Have to say following my 60th birthday which was a huge high for about 10 days I had a bit of a low few days spent mainly binge watching TV box sets eating the shortbread and chocolate I’d been bought and generally feeling sad and old . On Monday I made myself get out of my chair and go sea swimming in the sun then I had my Yoga class . The result of this was that my mood was instantly restored and I’m still feeling happy and remembering again how much I have to be grateful for today despite a stressful day at work yesterday . Exercise can feel like a chore but sometimes it’s just pure magic . Xx
I agree, @JoanneN, it is like magic! I go to the gym daily before work and notice a big difference on the odd days when I can’t. It may be a fact, may be pure fluke, but I’m convinced exercise is the reason I have recovered and feel so well.
It’s great to see the benefits of exercise for people who have experienced cancer being promoted. As well as the research already out there showing it can reduce the risk of recurrence the mental benefits are huge. I’ve entered a load of running things over the next year. There is something incredibly empowering about being able to plan something physically challenging in my future when there were times last year I was so worried about what my future may have been. x
Belated happy 60th from a fellow 60-year-old! xx
Thank you @flojo - hope you had a good one too. Xx
When I was first diagnosed, one of the nurses said to me that there was growing evidence that exercise could be as beneficial as chemotherapy to reducing the risk of cancer returning. It stuck with me as something that is empowering at at a time when we lose control of so much.
Mine was a while ago - I’m 61 this summer - I’m hoping for a better one as last year was caught up with all this nonsense! Weird being 60 though! xx
Yes I hope that you are able to do something lovely this time to celebrate . Even if you’re well sometimes life just gets in the way and it’s even more important to celebrate being 61 than being 60 in a way . It’s really weird being 60 I agree especially as in my head I don’t feel older and sometimes quite the opposite ! Xx
Hi, I am excited to hear that exercise is being promoted… My concern is however, what if you were already exercising prior to diagnosis…? It didn’t stop me getting breast cancer… I’m 45, frequently exercise, skip, cycle, run, do strength training, circuits, climbing, hiking… I ran a half marathon one month ago… And now I am newly diagnosed… I don’t drink and never smoked… I eat healthy, and yet… Here I am… All the advice I see to stop recurrence is, exercise, eat healthy, dont smoke or drink… It kind of feels like, where can I improve to stop recurrence…?! 
Yes I know what you mean . Unlike yourself I’ve been overweight for a long time and I did smoke at one time as well though not for 20 years now and although I do drink it’s not very often. When I was diagnosed I was going through an awful lot of stress but physically although overweight I was feeling pretty good. Three Yoga classes a week when they fit with my work schedule including an outdoor one . Open water swimming several times a week and / or body boarding and a job that involves a fair bit of walking / pushing beds and trolleys plus the odd two or three mile walk .
I put mine down to combination of age being overweight and three extremely stressful years in a row . I don’t know that anyone can say for sure why one person gets it and another less healthy person doesn’t but I think we all know life isn’t fair. For me the benefits of doing exercise that I live means that my mental health is also better and I get into better eating habits
Pressed send too soon yet again ! I think it must give a reduction in risk of recurrence but it’s very hard to say how much and it’s hard for all of us to live with the uncertainty but we just have to do the best we can . I had not been doing that recently but for me personally there are two things that help me get and keep my diet under control one is drinking lots of water and the other is exercise . If I’m not doing those things to begin with then any kind of healthy eating plan doesn’t last long . Xx
The biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and age 50 and over but men can get it and so can any women who have breasts from the age of puberty onwards.
The percentages double every ten years so age 40-50 it’s lower than 51-60 etc Highest risk is 80 + when I doubt whether they aggressively treat it.
Normal Life expectancy for women is now nearly 87 if I remember correctly but it’s only an educated guess isn’t it? Death and taxation are the only certainties and taxation is yearly but death just the once.
Sorry to be the prophet of doom but we only live once despite what James Bond films tell you. I am aiming for the best life I can manage. Seagulls aged 69 11/12
Same as me . I am back at the gym and glad I had a healthy lifestyle but not convinced !