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As we had mentioned in the last newsletter, Dr. Riggs Klika, Executive Director of the Cancer Survivor Center, was presenting our latest research on exercise and cancer at last week’s American College of Sports Medicine’s National Meeting. Over the course of the last few years, the number of organizations researching and prescribing exercise to cancer survivors has begun to grow. Although the numbers are still small, it is evident that the interest in the field has taken off. This week, we would like to note some highlights from the conference to make you aware of growing trends in cancer and exercise.

It is because of this research and the ongoing efforts to find a cure for cancer that the following statistics have been made possible:

(Provided by: OncoLink. “Did You Know… The Facts About Cancer Survivorship?” Carolyn Vachani, The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania. June 1, 2008.)

As usual, we would like to provide you with this week’s training tip. If you have any questions or comments regarding the tip, please do not hesitate to contact one our Certified Cancer Exercise Specialists here at the CSC.

There are some differing opinions regarding the duration and intensity of exercise that cancer survivors should participate in. However, the research is becoming increasingly clear that consistency, as in daily exercise, may be more important than duration or intensity. Exercise not only helps strengthen un-used muscles (due to treatment and fatigue) and stimulate adaptations in the heart and lungs, but it also acts to increase immune system function. Research indicates that regular physical exercise also enhances the antioxidant defense system and protects against exercise-induced free radical damage. This is an important finding because it shows how smart the body is about adapting to the demands of exercise. These changes occur slowly over time and appear to parallel other adaptations to exercise. It appears (and there needs to be further study in the cancer survivor population) that these reasons may play a part in why cancer survivors, who exercise regularly during and after treatment (e.g., walking), tend to tolerate treatment better and regain physical conditioning faster once treatment has ended.

On the other hand, intense exercise in untrained individuals overwhelms defenses resulting in increased free radical damage. Thus, the "weekend warrior" who is predominantly sedentary during the week but engages in vigorous bouts of exercise during the weekend may be doing more harm than good. To this end, there are many factors which may determine whether exercise-induced free radical damage occurs, including degree of conditioning of the athlete, intensity of exercise, and diet. This has NOT yet been studied in cancer survivors, but there is no reason to believe that it is not true for this population.

In conclusion, exercise for the cancer survivor can be both good and bad. If you are a cancer survivor and want to stay active during and after your treatments and you have any doubts, keep exercise intensity low, but do something 5, preferably 6, days a week. If you want to work at higher intensities, seek the advice of a certified health professional who understands both the demands of your cancer and cancer treatment and knows how to prescribe exercise intensities that are both safe and efficacious.

Resources

Food For Life TV - One of the Cancer Survivor Center’s best resources is healthy eating a publication provided by the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. This committee is now offering free interactive, online, video support group webcasts for anyone who would like to begin or maintain a healthy diet. Thirty minute classes will offer information on diet and disease, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease, as well as cooking demonstrations and group support for anyone looking to lose weight, lower cholesterol, or simply improve his or her health. Classes air Thursdays at 8pm EST and again on Saturdays at 1pm EST. Visit the site to watch previous classes, receive email updates and weekly reminders, or to take part in a class!

MRI May Contribute to Rising Mastectomy Rates - The number of mastectomies performed at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for women with early stage breast cancer jumped by 13 percent between 2003 and 2006, rising from 30 percent to 43 percent. A new study suggests that the introduction of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which is more sensitive than traditional mammography, may have been a factor.

An analysis of more than 5,400 women with early stage breast cancer who had surgery at the Mayo Clinic between 1997 and 2006 showed that women who received preoperative MRI were significantly more likely to undergo mastectomy than those who did not, though mastectomy rates rose in both groups. Co-author Dr. Matthew P. Goetz recently briefed the media on the findings, which will be presented next month at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.

Preoperative breast MRI can detect cancer in more than one part of the breast, and this may lead physicians and patients to choose mastectomy over lumpectomy. About half of the lesions detected by MRI are not cancerous and only need to be monitored, but some women with these lesions may still choose mastectomy for various reasons, according to the researchers.

Mastectomy rates declined from 45 percent in 1997 to 30 percent in 2003, but then rose to 43 percent in 2006, the study found. During this period, the percentage of women who had breast MRI doubled to 22 percent. Half of the patients receiving MRI underwent mastectomy, compared with 38 percent of women who did not have MRI. Mastectomy rates also rose in women who did not have preoperative MRI (from 28 percent in 2003 to 41 percent in 2006).

Dr. Julie Gralow of the University of Washington, who moderated the briefing, cautioned that more research is needed to determine whether the additional surgeries improve outcomes and increase overall survival. A recent study showing an increase in preventive double mastectomies has similarly raised questions about the risks and benefits of these surgeries.