Good Physical Fitness Reduces Cancer Incidence And Mortality

Good physical fitness reduces cancer incidence and mortality

According to a large American study, people in good physical shape are significantly less likely to get lung cancer and colorectal cancer. In addition, with a high level of fitness prior to diagnosis, mortality from these diseases was lower.

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According to a large American study, physically fit people are significantly less likely to develop lung cancer and colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer. In addition, with a high level of fitness prior to diagnosis, mortality from these diseases was lower. The findings are published online in the American Cancer Society's Cancer.

Until now, there have been only limited data on the relationship between cardiorespiratory endurance (fitness of the heart and lungs) and the risks of occurrence, development and mortality from lung and colorectal cancer. This is the largest study of its kind, and the first to include sufficient numbers of women (46%) and non-white (36%) participants.

The researchers studied 49,143 adults between the ages of 40 and 70 without lung or colorectal cancer at the time of study. Participants underwent stress testing (clinical exercise testing) from 1991 to 2009. The average age of the participants was 54 years, the average follow-up period was 7.7 years. Cancer data were obtained through the cancer registration system, and all-cause mortality data from the National Death Register.

The analysis, adjusted for age, race, gender, BMI, smoking history and diabetes, showed that people with the best physical fitness had a 77% lower risk of lung cancer and 61% lower risk of colorectal cancer.

Among those diagnosed with lung or colorectal cancer, at the highest level of physical fitness, the risk of subsequent death was reduced by 44% and 89%, respectively.

“Our cohort analysis data is one of the first, largest and most diverse to look at how fitness affects cancer outcomes. Fitness testing is routinely done for many people by their doctors today. Many people may already be getting these results and can be informed about the link between fitness and cancer risk in addition to what fitness levels mean for other conditions such as heart disease,”said Dr. Catherine Handy Marshal of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, lead author of the study.

Scientists see the need for more research to expand on the results already obtained and determine whether improving physical fitness can affect the risk of cancer and cancer deaths.