Physical activity, particularly walking, “can substantially reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer,” say two recently published scientific studies.
Accumulating scientific evidence has shown that exercise reduces risk for many types of cancer, but the mechanism involved has not been well understood.
Detail on two decades of the exercise habits of more than 73,600 postmenopausal women age 50 to 73 was analyzed. Though a few women said they took vigorous exercise, most of the women walked at a pleasant pace of about 3 miles per hour. The analysis showed that those women who walked an hour a day had 14 percent less risk of developing breast cancer than those who walked less than three hours per week.
Those few who were the most active, sweating vigorously for up to 10 hours a week, had a 25 percent less risk of breast cancer.
“Walking is an easy, inexpensive type of exercise,” said one scientist. “Almost everyone can do it. And for this population of postmenopausal women, it provided a very significant reduction in the risk of breast cancer.”
In another study on younger women, women who were sedentary, but began a moderate aerobic exercise program for 16 weeks found that the ratios of estrogen metabolites in their urine shifted in a way that is believed to indicate a reduction in breast cancer risk. The women also lost body fat and gained muscle. Apparently by altering the ratio of estrogen metabolites and reducing body fat, the chemistry of a woman’s body changes making it difficult for breast cancer to take hold. Exercise is not the only factor that reduces risk in breast cancer, but is a significant one.
“…physical activity, and especially walking,” said one of the researchers, “are so simple and so accessible to most women. And statistically, they do seem to reduce breast cancer risk…”
“Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for diseased bodies, because in this exercise all the organs of the body are brought into use… There is no exercise that can take the place of walking. By it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, page 78