Daily exercise could help beat breast cancer

Daily exercise of just 30 minutes could boost a woman’s chances of beating breast cancer.

Exercise increases the level of white blood cells that kill tumours, as well as viruses and bacteria, say researchers from the University of Turku in Finland.  In particular, exercise increases cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells.

The researchers tested the benefits of exercise on a group of 20 women who had just been diagnosed but hadn’t started treatment.  They pedalled a gym bike for 30 minutes, and blood samples were taken before and after each session.

The exercise increased levels of the cancer-fighting cells, while cancer-promoting cells reduced or stayed the same.  Earlier research discovered that the cytotoxic T cells found their way to the tumour area.

But exercise is most effective in the early stages of the cancer.  Fewer natural cells were being created in women with larger tumours, and the same was true for women whose cancer was estrogen or progesterone receptor positive.

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