Postmenopausal women who walk regularly have less chance of getting breast cancer, scientists have found. In a study of more than 70,000 women, researchers from the American Cancer Society found that those who walked for more than seven hours a week had a quarter less risk of getting breast cancer compared to women who did hardly any exercise.

The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, used statistics from a group of women who have been followed in the US for 20 years. And you don’t even have to be a fitness freak to reap the benefits. Even if you don’t do any other sports, just walking an average of one hour a day already showed a significant lower risk of breast cancer.

But even if you do get breast cancer walking and being active can really help. Cancer Charity Macmillan have found that there is more and more evidence that suggests that physical activity can reduce cancer patients’ chances of dying from the disease. Breast and prostate cancer patients can reduce their risk of dying from the disease
by 30–40% if they do recommended levels of activity, compared to those doing less than one hour a week.

And being active can also help with the physical and emotional side effects of cancer treatment. According to a Macmillan survey, more than 70% say they’re struggling with physical side effects between one year and 10 years after treatment. These can include fatigue, weight gain, nerve damage, swelling around the arms, lymphoedema, blood clots, hot flushes and night sweats.

And now there is increasingly strong evidence that physical activity can help prevent and manage these side effects caused by cancer or its treatment. The evidence review shows that physical exercise does not make you more tired during treatment, and can in fact boost energy after treatment.

Enough reason to let nothing stop you! Get out there and get active!

Have (had) breastcancer and don’t know where to start? Nordic Walking is a gentle but very effective form of exercise. My friend and fellow Nordic Walking instructor Carolyn Garritt from Oomph Personal Training is specialised in fitness after cancer. Why not have a chat with her and see how she can help?